New year ahead !

Wishes all Fun.Food | Sweet ~ Indulgence | readers a happy 2009 !
I'd promise in year 2009, I will feature more exciting spots and food around Singapore.
Once again cheerios to everyone !
See you in the new year ahead !

P.S By the way, the post of MAD JACK Cafe really did caught attention from the people from MAD JACK group ! Cheers ! In return, I wish a Happy 2009 to all the staffs of the MAD JACK group !

X'mas Special : Mount Faber

Just as Christmas come to an end, this will be the last post of our X'mas Special.
A few days ago, I visited Mount Faber. The atmosphere there is cool, but the Christmas decorations are the main focus.
Jewel box is a restaurant located there, its decorated with mini Christmas trees on top of the logo. They have also set up a corner called Jewel Castle, which held a daily show, something alike a musical, of course with ticket admission.

But the reason I wrote about Mount Faber today is not about Jewel Box, instead I am writing because there is a tall lighted Christmas tree which will be lighted up at the same time as the daily show there.
Usually you will able to catch it for 45 minutes before it go off and on at the next show time slot.


The tree is really very well decorated, this giant tall tree can be seen in between of HDB houses when you are traveling up Mount Faber.

Ratings :
Efforts : 4.5/5 (The Chrismas tree was really tall, some efforts really needed to hang down the shiny blue lights from the top of the antenna)
Beauty : 4.5/5
Atmosphere : 4.5/5
Overall : 4.5/5

picture taken from : h2oBaby's flickr photostream

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Fun.Food | Sweet ~ Indulgence | wishes you a happy Merry Christmas !

Christmas is near

Christmas is near !
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year (:
Sorry for not posting for so long,
I will be back soon !

You are welcome to be part of us !

Fancy writing a review of your favourite food ? Pastime ? Event ?
Now its your chance !
Give me an e-mail to : yienshawn92@yahoo.com.sg,
indicating your name, age, your blogger sign-in e-mail & your contact no. (if possible).
Then I will issue you rights to be a writer of Fun.Food | Sweet ~ Indulgence | !

Hope to hear from you soon !

X'mas Special : Suntec City Mall Atriums

We seemed to have forgotten something didn't we ? Haha, I remember, we have not yet written about the Christmas decorations of another popular Singapore shopping mall - Suntec City !
This year, we can see hanging mini Christmas trees being decorated at the Suntec City Mall Atriums.
Aren't they cute ?
The mini Christmas trees were also decorated with little ball ornaments on it, indeed a creative and cute way of expressing Christmas this year.

Ratings :
Efforts : 4.5/5 (The Chrismas tres were creative and neatly done)
Beauty : 4.5/5 (I like the idea of hanging tiny Chistmas trees down)
Atmosphere : 4.5/5
Overall : 4.5/5 (Creative and nice work)

picture taken from : chooyutshing's flickr photostream

X'mas Special : AMK Hub

Fancy a looney tunes Christmas ? AMK Hub is decorated with your favourite Tweety bird, and fellow looney tunes friends. At least its better compared to last year's design.
Furthermore there are two giant scaptures decorated and hanging inside the mall itself.
Outside the mall, the entrence is decorated with a roughly 2-3 storeys tall christmas tree, with shiny lights and of course the looney tunes friends as well as some presents at the side. Below it is some sort of gallery in which you can photograph yourself together with the cartoon characters.

Ratings :
Efforts : 4/5
Beauty : 4/5
Atmosphere : 4/5 (I am sure kids will like these cartoon characters to accompany them during the festive season)
Overall : 4/5

photo taken from : hyantie's flickr photostream

X'mas Special : Paragon

This year's Paragon Christmas decorations there are 22 pieces of 3m-tall mannequins dressed in lavish, bauble-like gowns(2nd picture above). Along with bright blue lines of lights.
There is also a 12m tree at the main entrance(1st picture above) which has also a few of the mannequins hanged on it.
Swags along the walkways are also filled with rich coloured burgundy, gold and champange.

Ratings :
Efforts : 5/5 (The Chrismas tree and mannequins were creatively done)
Beauty : 5/5 (I like the decorations in the mall as the blur lines of lights decorations were accompanied by the mannequins)
Atmosphere : 5/5 (As said by their advertising manager : "we believe that it will enchance the festive atmosphere and shopping experience at Paragon." I can say that they have done it !)
Overall : 5/5 (Well Done !)

Picture taken from : Udit Bhatia's flickr

X'mas Special : Tangs

This year, Tangs has decorated its Christmas decorations with a lit-up cottage, adding a quaint touch to this Christmas season. Household items such as forks were creatively used in the decoration as well. The Tangs' team had recycled most of the props for the store and window displays and also uses reflective materials to save electricity. They had also used 5 green circles and a star to form an image which look like a Christmas tree.

Ratings :
Efforts : 4.5/5 (The lit-up cottage, bright light branches, hard work were needed)
Beauty : 4.5/5 (I like the design of the lit-up cottage and the branches with lights)
Atmosphere : 4.5/5 (The lit-up cottage truly spice up the atmosphere of Christmas)
Overall : 4.5/5 (Applaud for this nice work put up by Tangs this year)

Picture taken from tammyaterry flickr

Teo Sing Food Junction

Located in Thomson Road there's a coffee shop selling Teochew Porridge.
In the night, most of the stalls in the coffee shop would be closed, except for this "Teo Sing Food Junction". They offered a large variety of food, from braised pork intestines, not-to-be-missed sotong, duck, vegetables, etc. Furthermore, its relatively cheap, not that expensive.
Lastly, their garlic chili which you can ownself scoop on the table itself is really fantastic.

How to get there :
A 15mins walk from Thomson Plaza will reached there, its located at a streets of food stalls, directly beside a KTV (if I am not wrong). The coffee shop is the brightest among them all as its decorated with many bulbs of lights.

Ratings :
Range of food : 4.5/5
Value : 4.5/5
Taste : 4.5/5
Overall : 4.5/5 (Try it !)

X'mas Special : Plaza Singapura

Decorated with colorful angels and bright line of lights, together with red, silver, golden circles decorations. Its really a nice effort put up by Plaza Singapura.
Furthermore, the angels are really cool and the lines of gold, red and silver circles are nicely done.
Its as though you have been to a "angel wonderland" when you stepped into Plaza Singapura as angels can be seen above your head.

Ratings :
Efforts : 4.5/5 (Efforts needed to decorate the tree with so many balls)
Beauty : 4.5/5
Atmosphere : 4.5/5 (The giant angels hanging down with lines of circle truly bring on the atmosphere of Christmas)
Overall : 4.5/5 (A perfect work put up by Plaza Singapura)

X'mas Special : Thomson Plaza

Thomson Plaza this year has been decorated with a tall christmas tree this year, decorated with blue, gold and purple ornaments. Actually, the tree is quite tall and together with the ornaments, its quite nice too.
There are also lights hanging down from the top and green, red clothes designed at the glass of every floor.

Ratings :
Efforts : 3/5
Beauty : 3/5
Atmosphere : 3/5
Overall : 3/5 (Not bad, quite an acceptable decoration put up, but more effort are needed next year)

X'mas Special : Causeway Point

Went to Causeway Point yesterday, the first thing I took notice was their Christmas decorations. The decorations were mainly about a santa clause-like dwarf standing on a window and putting presents there. Below it will be lines of shiny lights and some christmas stockings and gifts.
Also, on the transparent glasses of the different floors, they are also decorated with stockings and lights as well.
But personally, I felt that this year's Christmas decorations in Causeway Point was not that well done. The repetitions of santa and windows everywhere might seemed boring after a while.

Ratings :
Efforts : 3.5/5 (Efforts needed to paint the santa clause decorations)
Beauty : 3/5 (you will go quite tired after looking at so many same decorations)
Atmosphere : 3/5 (Santa,Gifts,Stockings = Christmas, but Causeway Point seemed to have a "x-factor" missing)
Overall : 3.5/5 (Quite a disappointing decorations being put up this year, more special ideas needed)

X'mas Special : VivoCity

Another tall and colourful christmas tree, this time, its spotted at VivoCity.
With 3 different colours of lighted balls, blue, yellow and red,together with lines of golden lights linking from the top to the bottom of the tree.
Can you guess how many balls are there ?
haha.

Ratings :
Efforts : 4/5 (Efforts needed to decorate the tree with so many balls)
Beauty : 4/5
Atmosphere : 4.5/5 (The giant colourful and golden tree stands out at the top of the sky park, bringing visitors and shoppers to a more better atmosphere of christmas)
Overall : 4/5 (If Tampines mall can get 4/5, VIVO City has no reason to get lower then 4, therefore, they are both 4/5. Acceptable?)

image taken from : glutton's flickr photoshtream

Breadou™ Donut

We are hoping that Breadou can accept Fun.Food |Sweet ~ Indulgence| to be the official advertisement website for Breadou (:

Anyway, Breadou have once again release a new batch of Breadou, they are know as Breadou™ Donut



Don't they looked nice ? As if they are real.

“Life can be a hole lot sweeter with a daily treat (or trick) of BreadouTM DONUT!” ~ Chef Breadou

BreadouTM DONUT is the latest collection in Big Box International’s series of stress ball cum wrist support. The frostings or chocolate swirls on each donut are hand-painted for your appreciation.

Designed and developed by Big Box International Pte. Ltd., BreadouTM DONUT comes in 6 colourful designs which are available exclusively at Action City in Singapore, for $7.95 each.

--http://breadou.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/breadou™-donut

Ratings :
Fun : 4.5/5 (Indulge in 6 different flavors of donuts)
Value for money : 4.5/5
Overall : 4.5/5 (Grab one now !)

HOKKA DON (japanese cuisine)

Japanese cuisine can be seen around shopping malls, foodcourt, but not many japanese cuisine can be spotted in coffeeshop.
In Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, there's a Japanese Cuisine located in BLK347. They are called HOKKA DON. They have just opened recently in October.

After dining a few times of their food, I felt that its up to expectations. If you lived somewhere near to Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, do take a few minutes of walk to BLK347 and have a try of their japanese food. If you do not live near to Ang Mo Kio, you can also take a bus to AMK Hub then, you can take a 10mins walk from AMK Hub to BLK 347, which is located directly opposite of AMK Hub.

A must-try is their udon and salmon garlic set.

Ratings :
Taste of food : 4/5 (not bad, above expectations)
Range of food : 4/5 (from rice chicken set to fish set, prawn set, pork set, beef set, claypot, udon, shumai set)
Location : 3.5/5 (though its not located in popular or crowded places, its just a few minutes of walk from AMK Hub and its around the whole neighbourhood of Ang Mo Kio Ave 3)
Overall : 4/5 (recommended to try if you have the time to travel to Ang Mo Kio Ave 3)

X'mas Special : Tampines Mall

This year, Tampines Mall has a huge large Christmas tree in the mall, decorated with red and white lights. The transparent glass on every floors are also decorated with some decorations and lights as well.

Ratings :
Efforts : 4/5 (Indeed it takes quite some efforts to put up and decorate such a tall huge tree)
Beauty : 3.5/5
Atmosphere : 3.5/5 (the red and white colours of lights and decorations indeed bring some level of excitement and christmas feeling to the shoppers)
Overall : 4/5 (Quite a nice decorations put up by Tampines Mall)

Picture taken from : Mugunth Kumar Flickr

Singapore Philatelic Museum

Singapore Philatelic Museum, Southeast Asia’s first philatelic museum, was officially opened on 19 August 1995 as a project of the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore. On 1 April 2000, the Museum was transferred to the National Heritage Board as a fully owned subsidiary. Created from the mantle of civic responsibility, the Museum assumes the role of custodian and curator of the nation's treasure of philatelic materials for posterity and education.

The Museum showcases Singapore's collection of stamps, philatelic materials, and postal history artefacts dating back to the Straits Settlements as well as the rare collections of private collectors. Educational activities and public programmes designed for schools, families and the general public are also organised by the Museum.

The building was the formerly part of the Anglo Chinese School. It was designed by Tomlinson and Lermit Architects and commissioned by the Trustees of the Anglo Chinese School in 1906 as an additional school building to the Oldham Hall built in 1897. The original plans of this building were approved on 22nd June 1906.

There are a total of 5 permanent exhibitions, Orange Room, Purple Room, Green Room, Room of Rarities, Heritage Room. Each exhibition has their own features. Discover why Stamps are Windows to the World and why the hobby has remained popular for 160 years. You can also view philatelic rarities from our 18th century collection and trace the growth of Singapore through philately and postal artefacts.

Singapore Philatelic Museum
23 B Coleman Street
Singapore 179807
Republic of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6337 3888
Fax: (65) 6337 8958
E-mail: nhb_spm_adm@nhb.gov.sg

HOW TO GET TO SPM
The Singapore Philatelic Museum is located at the junction of Coleman Street and Armenian Street. It is easily accessible by public transport.

* MRT
A 10-minute walk from City Hall or Clarke Quay stations.

* Public Bus
The nearest bus-stop is outside the Armenian Church at Hill Street.
SBS Transit : 2, 12, 32, 33, 51, 62, 63, 80, 197
SMRT : 61

* Car Parks
The nearest car parks are at:

1. Armenian Street (between Singapore Bible House and Asian Civilisation Museum)
2. Fort Canning Rise (before the Registry of Marriages)

MUSEUM HOURS

Monday : 1 pm - 7 pm
Tuesday to Sunday : 9 am - 7 pm

MUSEUM ADMISSION

$5.00 for Adult
$4.00 for Child (3-12 years)

All infomation are taken directly from : Singapore Philatelic Museum website

Ratings :
Exhibitions : 4/5 (I love to discover and read the history of stamps in Singapore and around the world, been there twice within a year as the place is just fun !)
Transport : 4.5/5 (Car, buses, MRT stations are located just a few minutes of walk from the museum)
Value of Ticket : 4.5/5 (Considered as relatively cheap as you can explore so many different stamps, some are centuries ago)
Overall : 4.5/5 (Not knowing where to go during this school holidays ? Then visit Singapore Philatelic Museum)

X'mas Special : Chrismas Light Up

Lets put our hands together and welcome the festive month of December !
This month Fun.Food | Sweet ~ Indulgence | will feature different decorations of different shopping malls, but lets kick things off by first posting about this year's christmas light-ups along Orchard Road.



This year, the total length of light-up along Orchard Zone(Orchard Road, Scotts Road, Tanglin Road) is about 4km, whereas at the Marina Zone (Rendezvous Hotel to Esplanade), the total length of light-up is 1.6km. The decorations used for this year is mostly sweets (lollipops, christmas sweet ornaments). A bit like candy wonderland. However, this year, I felt that it was much better compared to the x'mas light-up last year. Last year's was just light blue lights hanging down, with a star at the middle, others were accompanied by abstract lines, which I'd rather felt quite plain. Therefore, this year's pirple and blue lines, forming shapes of hearts and stars, with lollipops hanging down from tress, I felt that it makes the atmosphere more heart warming.

Ratings :
Amount of ornaments used : 4.5/5 (More then 10,000+ of lollipops used)
Atmosphere : 4.5/5 (Much better then last year's, I love the colours used this year)
Overall : 4.5/5 (What are you waiting for, take a relaxing night stroll in the candy wonderland of Orchard Road if you haven't been there yet)

Photo used : beinbrecher's flickr photostream

Lexus Cup 2008 (Singapore Island Country Club)

The Lexus Cup is an annual golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by a team representing Asia and an international team representing the rest of the world. It is sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, but any winnings are unofficial and are not included in the LPGA money list standings. This year, it was held in Singapore at Singapore Island Country Club.
Just yesterday, the 3-day event(Friday to Sunday) eventually ended with Team International winning 12½ to Team Asia's 11½.

Alright, so today I will post a rating of this 3 day golf event, also this will be the last official LPGA appearance for Team International captain Annika Sörenstam. She will retire at the end of the 2008 season.
If you have watched it from TV, and you really like the atmosphere of it, do head down next year (if its held in Singapore next year).
Anyway, after watching so many golf competitions, I still felt that Lexus Cup is one of the most relaxing and friendly competition. Both Team Asia and International didn't really played with anger, furthermore, when players and players finished the 18-hole battle, they will all wait at the 18th hole for their fellow mates and cheer for them, so this is a rare scene which can be seen in other major golf competitions.
Those players can have a relaxing and less pressure day with their opponents and they will surely have a fun light-hearted time to play their shot.

Ratings :
Venue : 4.5/5 (Much better clean and green venue compared to Tanah Merah Country Club, which held Lexus Cup 2006 & 2007)
Atmosphere : 4.5/5 (Not much pressure from each golfers, laughs and jokes can be seen in their interview after their 18 holes battles as well)
Players : 4/5 (If you are like golf, you will know some of the popular golfers taking part as well )
Overall : 4.5/5 (quite a nice experience, don't miss out Lexus Cup 2009 if its held in Singapore too)

Pictures taken from : Vantan's Flickr