Singapore: Lovelier The Second Time Around

Our love affair with the Lion City started on our first stopover in 2011 (which I wrote about here)and we have been back since then. Singapore is a place that you never get tired of. There is so much to do. There is a wide selection of restaurants to choose from, be it Michelin starred or hole in the wall. The shopping is impressive with a wide array of designer brands in the countless shopping malls that abound in the city. Orchard Road (comparable to Oxford street in London and Champs Elysee in Paris) and Marina Bay Sands are your best bets if you are a shopping enthusiast.

Oh, how I love this city. I could go on and on but first, let me count the ways...

The Airport - Singapore's Changi airport has always been, time and again, on the list of the best airports in the world and for 2014, they topped the list of Skytrax World's Best Airport award. This is its second time in a row. There is no surprise there. Anybody who has been to Changi airport will agree. Aside from being spotlessly clean, there is so much to do that you would feel your holiday has started way before you boarded your flight or for those arriving, way before you even come out of immigration. There is so much greenery inside and it is the only airport in the world that houses a butterfly garden.For longer layovers, it has a cinema to while away your time, snooze lounges and of course, free Wifi.

The Airline - Singapore's flag carrier, Singapore Airlines is my favourite airline to fly with when going home for a holiday. Great in flight entertainment. The food and the service are flawless and  I could not recommend it enough.

The food - If you love your food (who doesn't) then Singapore for you is paradise. You are spoiled for choice from street vendors to fine dining. Considered as the food capital of Asia, Singapore's diverse cuisine caters very well to it's equally diverse residents and tourists. Joel Robuchon has already set up shop and so has Jaime Oliver and some of  America's celebrated chefs. But if you want a taste of the real Singapore, never leave without trying their famous signature dishes, Chili Crab and the Hainanese Chicken. One Michelin Star Din Tai Fung is also worth a visit for their famous Xiao Long Bao.

The shopping - Whether you want to hit the shops for a bargain or you want to score some of the most coveted designer pieces, Singapore is the right place for you. With international brands sprouting like mushrooms, the shopping scene is not at all behind. Orchard Road is an endless stretch of shops and shopping malls alike. Here you can find the likes of Abercrombie and Fitch, H&M, DKNY. If you want more upscale shopping, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will do just the trick where the only floating Louis Vuitton shop in the world is located.

The City - Not only is Singapore great for food and shopping enthusiasts, it is also great for families. This city is very family friendly with a whole load of family activities and places to visit on offer. For movie buffs, there is Universal Studios where not only the kids will enjoy but also for the kids at heart. If your children love nature there is the Botanic Gardens, The Jurong Bird Park, Underwater World and of course, the Singapore Zoo.Singapore is also not short of museums with their National Museum, The Science Center Museum, The Maritime Experiential Museum and the Mint Museum of Toys to name a few. There is also the Big Splash water park for those who wants to get wet and wild. Lastly, the not to be missed, the spectacular Light and Water show at the Marina Bay Sands. "An amazing convergence of light, music and sound and giant water screens" as described by its website is a 10 minute long show involving light and water displays to the rhythm of a song. There are two shows at 8 pm and 10 pm so make sure to catch one or both. 

We are definitely not done with Singapore and for definite, we will keep coming back.

My Special Birthday

All birthdays are special but when it is a milestone birthday, the more special it is. For my special milestone birthday last year, I knew what I wanted. I wanted it to be small and intimate with just a handful of close friends and since I love afternoon tea, it was a no brainer. No, I did not want an afternoon tea themed party but the real deal. I wanted to experience that quintessential British tradition but not in the comforts of my own home, where I usually have mine but in a quaint and elegant setting complete with pretty china and gleaming silverware. The Marriott's Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire was the perfect choice.

Before going to the venue, I met up with my girl friends for brunch at home.

A simple meal was served at home to tie us up until our afternoon tea.

Afternoon Tea was served in the grand Oak Hall with views of the English countryside. The dark wood panelling and open fireplace added opulence to the already grand setting.

A harp was being played at one corner which made the experience heavenly.

A selection of finely cut sandwiches, dainty little pastries and cakes and freshly baked scones, the melt in your mouth variety, were served in beautiful layer trays.

There was a selection of tea to choose from but since I am a creature of habit, I always gladly stick with my English Breakfast tea.

The cakes and pastries were very well made and deliciously melts in your mouth and the scones were the best scones I have ever had. 

Service was flawless. 

It was a wonderful birthday spent with my favourite people in the world, in a place that that was perfect for me and nothing could be better than that.

The Fifth Birthday Celebration: An Afternoon Tea For Four

As November draws nearer, it is time to plan the upcoming birthday celebration of the five year old. With this in mind, I realized that I have not done a blog post about her fifth birthday celebration from last year. So in a way, this is a very long overdue post.

A few months before her fifth birthday, she showed me this mood board saying it is what she wants for her birthday party. The stage mommy in  me interpreted it as an afternoon tea, which is perfect as I love afternoon tea. In fact, it was exactly the same plan I had for my big birthday which was a week before hers. A separate post on that will be up soon.

We only invited her closest friends as tea parties are meant to be cosy and intimate. They enjoyed taking turns in pouring their "tea" which was actually hot chocolate.

A cake buffet was set up to go with the afternoon tea theme.

There were games and colouring contests but the star of the show, aside from the birthday girl of course, is this beautiful ruffle rainbow cake that my friend's daughter made for her. Since the birthday girl loves everything that is My Little Pony, this perfectly fits the bill and our taste buds as well.

It was a simple but fun birthday celebration which was enjoyed by everyone but most especially by the birthday girl herself.

Angelina Tea House, Paris

From now on, a trip to Paris would not be complete without a meal at Angelina Tea House. A stone’s throw from the Louvre museum, we went there to try their famous hot chocolate and found that their  meals were also amazing. Here, you do not only pay for the food but the ambience as well and I can tell you it is definitely worth it.  

It was founded in 1903 by confectioner, Rumpelmayer  and for centuries has maintained its opulence that is evident on the beautiful interior of which grandeur resonates.

                                                  

As you walk in through the door, you are greeted by a sign that says you will be taken care of as soon as possible, which was in no time at all. Looking around, you know instantly that you are about to indulge yourself and throw caution to the wind, as far as your diet is concerned. It would be a shame not to indulge with the array of chocolates and pastries that abound.

The first order of the day was their signature and word famous hot chocolate,  L’ African, made from a luscious blend of four different cocoa beans from Africa.  Dubbed as the best hot chocolate in Paris, it is decadent and velvety. It was very delicious but too rich that a few sips would be enough to satisfy your chocolate craving. It did not disappoint, I have to say.

We also ordered some mains as it was lunch time and the egg omelette, for me, has the perfect texture as far as omelettes are concerned of which my five year old happily devoured.

The Suprême de Volaille was the best meal I had in Paris. The breast of chicken was so tasty and tender and the tarragon sauce was amazingly out of this world. I would not even start on the melt in your mouth goodness of the mashed potato.

Angelina Café is not to be missed when in Paris. Dining there is an experience in itself. The service is good and the food is great. There are six locations in Paris but I guess none compares to the opulence of its original location at Rue de Rivoli. So, if you happen to be in Paris, make Angelina one of your destinations as it will be definitely worth it.

Paris In 24 Hours

I  have been lucky to be able to visit the city of lights, not once but twice (so far). Audrey Hepburn was quite right, Paris is always a good idea. All the more now with the Eurostar which delivers you straight right into central Paris via Gare Du Nord station.  My first visit several years ago was spent over three nights but the most recent was a hurried one, just over 24 hours to say the least. It was at the tail end of a bigger holiday in Disneyland with the five year old.

Paris has not changed much, it still has that quintessential elegance and charm. I have noticed though that the French were friendlier on this visit. I think it was the bonjours and the merci’s that we consciously added  to our sentences that made the difference this time.

There is so much to do in this magical city which, not surprisingly, always tops the list of the most visited city in the world.  From the culturally enriching museums , to the well-manicured gardens and world renowned landmarks, you are spoilt for choice whether you are in the city for a day or a week. Here is my list of favourite things to do and places to visit when in Paris that could be done in 24 hours.

          Angelina’s Tea Room (Le Salon De The’) –  Your first meal in Paris is best taken at Angelina’s Tea Room at Rue De Rivoli, a stone’s throw from the Louvre museum. Sipping their famous Chocolat Chaud Angelina, the most decadent hot chocolate you will ever have in Paris, coupled with a few bites from a macaron or the classic Mont-Blanc in the elegantly designed tea room is an experience in itself. Established in 1903, this exquisite place has seen the likes of Chanel and Hepburn. Angelina is not only famous for their pastries. They serve lovely meals as well and I could not recommend the Suprême de Volaille enough.

·         Louvre Museum (Musee de Louvre) – Considered as one of the biggest museums in Europe and the most visited in the world, it is home to thousands of historical masterpieces including Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Alexandros of Antioch’s Venus De Milo to name a few. Of course, you cannot see the entire Louvre in a day but a quick visit to cast a glance at Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile or for a photograph beside I.M Pei’s iconic Louvre Pyramid always suffice.

·         Tuileries Garden (Jardin De Tuileries)   – Past the Louvre is the Tuileries Garden. Originally the garden of the Tuileries Palace, it was opened to the public after the French Revolution. A walk through this long stretch of beautiful greenery and fountains is what Parisian dreams are made of. Here you can stop at one of the outdoor cafes to have that longed for pan au chocolat from PAUL matched with a refreshing bottle of Evian or some aperitif. Better yet, grab one of those green chairs that abound and sit idly to relax your legs while admiring the beautiful fountains and watch the world go by.

·         Champs- Elysees Avenue (Avenues des Champs-Elysees)  / Arc de Triomphe -  The most famous avenue in the world, Champs-Elysee, is a foodie and shophaholic haven. The west side is bordered with shops, both designer and high street and there is a variety of restaurants on offer. If you want to satisfy your sweet cravings, you can drop in at La Maison Laduree and indulge in one

of their macarons or madeleines .For a more formal dining, you can book a table at L’ Atelier De Robuchon, Joel De Robuchon's restaurant, the only chef in the world who holds the most Michelin star on all of his restaurants combined. Make sure you book way in advanced as we tried to book a table two weeks before our visit and we did not get a table. Otherwise, the Arch De Triomphe, located at the end of Champs-Elysees is also worth a visit.  Being at the top also gives you an unparalleled  view of Paris but without the long queues you get at the Eiffel Tower.

·         Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)-  A trip to Paris is not complete without seeing the Eiffel tower. Most tourists go to Paris with the main intention of seeing the most famous structure in the world, in all its glory and splendour. It is that part of the world where everyone dreams to be. Avoid the queue and book your tickets in advance or better yet, if you have some Euros to burn,  book a table at celebrated chef Alain Ducasse’s restaurant on the second floor to jump the queue, literally and figuratively taking your Parisian experience to the next level.

 So,that is your 24 hours in Paris sorted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with stunning views of Paris and a bit of shopping on the side. There is so much more to Paris than just the Eiffel tower or the Louvre so by all means explore as far as your feet can take you and see the city of lights the way your heart desires.

6 Important Things Being a Grown Up Has Taught Me

Now that I am older, I do not sweat the small stuff anymore. Here are 6 important things I learned in life.

Take care of yourself. After all, you are the only one who knows how you want to be taken care of. No one is going to come out of the blue offering you facials, gives you yoga sessions, buys you beautiful clothes and makeup, takes you to a nice holiday, or sends you to lunch with your girlfriends. Only you know all these things. Even husbands and boyfriends are clueless. Although taking care of yourself does not have to be expensive. It could be as simple as reading that book that you have been wanting to read but never had the time or taking a day off work not because you have to but because you just want to laze around the house and do nothing. Listen to your body, it tells you when to take a break. Once you have taken care of yourself, you are in a better position to take care of the people around you. As they say, take care of yourself and everything else will fall into place.

Spend more time with people who matter most, your family. With this, I mean putting down your phone, the iPad or the laptop and really talk, without distractions. We used to bring theiPad everytime we eat out but I found that while we are waiting to be served, the husband and I are on our phones and the little girl is on the iPad. No talking involved. It was not very ideal. So now, I make it a point that we put the phone away, leave the iPad at home and utilise the Kiddie packs that the restaurants provide. This way, the little girl gets to be creative with colouring and writing while the husband and I get to catch up.

Prioritise friendships. I am not best friends with everyone. I am choosy when it comes to letting people into my circle. I cannot be best friends with someone whom I am not comfortable with. If I can let my guard down with someone, where I can be just me when I am with them then there is a big chance we can be good friends, best friends even. Stay away from people who does not make you feel good about yourself. I do not like negativity or drama. As they say, the less friends you have, the less drama. So keep your circle small. Once you find your own small circle, make sure to spend time with those people and nurture your friendship. As per experience, laughter with friends always takes the stress away.

Be happy with what you have. I used to know a couple who were trying too hard to have a second child. The wife is so desperate and unhappy every time she talks about not being pregnant again. I could not fathom why instead of being happy and grateful for having their only child in front of her, she chose to be sad and long for another one that she does not have. Happiness is what you make it, people!

Learn to say no. If trying to make everyone around you happy by saying yes to everything they ask of you is stressing you out and eventually making you unhappy, then it is time to say no. No explanations. No excuses.

Lastly, do whatever makes you happy. Take holidays. If it means booking a spur of the moment Eurostar trip to Paris or as simple as snuggling all day under the duvet with a book or a movie, do it if it is what makes you happy. You heart will thank you for it.