On 1st December 2011, I was kindly and honoured to be invited by Rob and Karen, and through Marina Bay Singapore, to be part of their official opening event for Verve Pizza Bar at Marina Bay City Gallery. Rob and Karen are great hosts, very hospitable and friendly, a hallmark of Verve Pizza Bar and these traits can be seen across all their staff. Verve Pizza Bar is a great venue with awesome landscape views of Marina Bay, excellent authentic Italian Pizzas that I still can’t get enough of and of coures, homemade Gelato that is simply irresistible.

There’s a great list of authentic Italian Pizzas, you have to visit Verve Pizza Bar and try all of them! Do check out their list of pizzas here on their website! Oh yes, you must try their Homemade Gelato!! Do check out their list of Homemade Gelato here on their website! During the official opening event, we had a great time tasting the various authentic Italian Pizzas that the friendly staff of Verve Pizza Bar were serving out to us guests there!

Here’s some useful information for all my readers!

Source : Marina Bay Singapore

- Elephant Parade

From 11th Nov 2011 to 12th Jan 2012, world’s largest open air art exhibition of decorated elephant statues that seeks to attract public awareness and support for Asian elephant conservation, some of them are located in the Marina Bay region, go out and spot them !

- Balloon Wonderland

Date : 26th November 2011

Time : 7:30pm to 9:30pm

A balloon sculpting event, many big balloon sculptures would appear there, check out their facebook for more information !

- Christmas ChariTrees @ Marina Bay

20 lovingly and uniquely designed Christmas Trees lighting up the Marina Bay, raising funds for 300,000 beneficiaries of Community Chest. Check them out while you are strolling along the Marina Bay, take photos, share it and spread the love!

Do check out Marina Bay Singapore Facebook Page for more information and updates, remember to LIKE the page and stay updated! For more information on the Marina Bay Events for the month of November 2011, check out the link here! Enjoy and have lots of fun at the Marina Bay Singapore!

I was invited by Marina Bay Singapore and Singapore Straits Wine Company Pte Ltd, to attend the Singapore Wine Fiesta on Saturday, 29th October 2011 at the Customs House Pavillon. Being a wine lover, appreciative of the different wine varieties and a chance to taste different wines from all over the world! The Customs House Pavillon location is great, facing the Marina Bay, beautiful sceneries of the Marina Bay, waterfront and modern cosmopolitan city.

This was also another social networking and catch up event, great to meet up with the other social media/blogging/tweeple folks again! I also invited Priscilla along to this wine fiesta too for the wine tasting session! There was a special wine tasting and presentation session organised for our group, an eye opener for me, considering I had learned about wine as part of my course subject contents before in my tertiary days. Before the special wine tasting session, we visited the various booths of different wine labels from around the world, there were just so many of them there and it’s hard to choose which wine to try!! It’s a very good situation to be in, a chance to see, taste and view many different wine labels!

It was great to meet with Mr Nicolas, who was there to host our group, letting us taste different vintages and varieties of wine from around the world, sharing tips and knowledge about the different wines he was going around with. While I was happily drinking and tasting, it was a good learning experience for me, that’s something new I learned about wine during the tasting session, it never occurred to me that wine producers would mix more than 2 grapes varieties to produce a wine, however, the French wine makers used more than that and their wine is really good !!

A great wine event! Love the atmosphere, crowds and many different wine labels there at Singapore Wine Fiesta, many thanks to Marina Bay Singapore and Singapore Straits Wine Company Pte Ltd for the invitation!!

One particular dish that caught my attention was their Bak Kut Teh that we tasted at Tanjung Pinang, take a look at the photograph below and observe the meat ingredients first ~

What do you see ? Their bak kut teh is cooked very differently from our Singapore’s Teochew or Hokkien style. This is herbal and similar to the ones you would taste in Kuala Lumpur and what makes it different is the meat parts! There is only 1 pork rib and the rest are different parts of the pig, liver, tendon, kidney, meat slices and some other parts that I wasn’t able to identify and name it! Even though it looks more like a mixed pork meat parts soup with bak kut teh soup base flavour, it rocks!

Another dish is the deep fried calamari that was served to us at Elly Kelong, it’s crispy, not too oily, crunchy, chewy, tasty and delicious! It was very nice and became addictive!

Hope you enjoyed looking at the different food that we tasted in Bintan!!

 

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

During my recent Thailand trip with Sue, Amanda and Sue’s family, chatting with Sue’s dad, whose an avid fisherman, I got more excited to visit Elly Kelong and discussions went ahead to plan another short getaway trip to Elly Kelong! Finally, on the weekend of 8th and 9th October, the 4 of us, Clayton, Sue and Amanda, along with Sue’s parents and their friends, we began our adventure with a ferry ride from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Pinang in Bintan. After reaching Tanjung Pinang, we had our lunch first nearby the town centre, tasted great local ba ku teh (more like many mixed pig meat parts herbal soup) that is yummy and delicious. Next up was a trip to the supermarket to stock up tidbits and drinks (mineral water & beer) before our 1 hour land transfer across to the other side of Bintan Island, from the west to the east. Where is Elly Kelong located, with reference to the map below, look for Trikora Beach and look up towards Teluk Bakau, it’s somewhere there!

Map Source : Welcome to Bintan.com 

Upon reaching, it was a quiet, peaceful and tranquil location, away from the bustling and hassle city life, tucked away facing the beautiful sea, clear water. The weather was very beautiful when it’s bright and sunny with clear blue sky along with white fluffy clouds formation. Clayton and I shared a room with air-con, simple yet comfortable and nice, with its own shower and toilet facilities. Kicking into action, I prepared my fishing equipment and was caught in no-man’s land because I replaced my fishing line in the wrong direction, Sue’s dad saved me by releasing the whole reel line and recoiling back in the correct direction, on top of that, my fishing weights and hooks were too big and heavy for the shallower kelong fishing here! Last but not least, I had terrible luck and couldn’t catch any fish for 2D1N ! Of course, I did try to fish as much as could over the 2 days!

Even though I didn’t caught any fishes, it was also a relaxing and fun getaway for me with Clayton, Sue and Amanda, from eating, chatting, walking around exploring the neighbourhood, playing with the lovely friendly cute cats of Elly Kelong, taking lots of photographs (glamorous and un-glamourous), swimming, sun-tanning, camping out at night with tidbits & beer, chatting under the moon. The getaway was awesome, relaxing and fun, with lots of making/poking fun at people (most of the time was directed at me since I am the “biggest target board”). Playing with fireworks at night, I love playing with fireworks since I was a kid playing with fireworks in Malaysia, at my grandma’s home!

The photographs will bring many memories for us, I am looking forward to go back again, more and better prepared for fishing, to buy more fireworks to play there, doing a 3D2N stay instead in order for us to visit the island across whereby we can do a day trip to enjoy the sun, beautiful sand and sea. Take a look at the photographs that I took of our Elly Kelong adventure!

Great short getaway, great companionship, peaceful, tranquil and a break away from the city life. It’s something that I would strive to have, hopefully every quarter in the future, a short 2D1N  or 3D2N getaway nearby …

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Before going into the food, let me introduce Verve Pizza Bar, their motto is “Simple Things Done Right” and it’s all about their passion, influenced by passionate people and doing their things very passionately. An alfresco dinning by the Marina Bay, their handmade Italian pizzas are very delicious and it is a MUST TRY! Service staff are very courteous and friendly, giving us a very warm and friends/family feeling when we were dining there with fellow bloggers/social media folks on a beautiful Saturday after our sailing around the Marina Bay on the Audi Ultra Maxi Yacht with the Singapore F1 GP 2011 going on nearby !

For their delicious food, here’s our menu that we (most of us) tasted (information {what we ordered} below kindly provided by Juliana Tan, Menu information kindly provided by Karen of Verve Pizza Bar)

- Verve’s Calamari with Garlic Creme

- Potato Wedges with Chilli Crab dip

- Selection of authentic Italian thin-crust pizza (Enzo Peking duck, Altobello Spicy Beef, Mancini BBQ Chicken, Capricciosa ham & artichokes – from $21-$26 per 12 ” pizza)

- Selection of gelato ($6 per scoop) – Forrest Berries Sorbet, Decadent Chocolate, Lime Sorbet, Chocolate Baileys, Hazelnut, Pistacchio & Green Almond, Vanilla Cognac, Cookies & Cream

**Cocktails: Appletinis (made with fresh granny smith apples!)

$18 each (Happy hour 5 -7pm EVERYDAY half price beers & cocktails + FREE PIZZA)

- Their Calamari is very fresh and it’s very crunchy!! Great starter to share with your friends!!

- For their gelato, it’s a dream to see so many gelato selections available and I had the opportunity to taste a few of them, I love the Chocolate Baileys and I would be planning to return for more gelato, might need to make a few trips!

- Their pizzas are very special, they are of thin-crust, their dough is freshly produced everyday. Therefore, you can feel the freshness and fragrance of freshly hand made pizzas, living up to their motto of “Simple Things Done Right” with lots of passion, along with their warmth, heart and soul into making of their delicious pizzas, you can definitely feel it in them, absolutely gorgeous!

I was kindly invited by the Marina Bay Division of Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for a day of social, leisure and recreational activities on 24th September 2011 and it was a dream coming true when I was able to board the beautiful and magnificent Audi Ultra Super Maxi Yacht for a short trip on the Marina Bay waters!! Alright, before I go further into my adventure story telling, here’s more information on the Audi Ultra Racing Team. Here’s the technical details of the yacht and it’s an awesome sight to be on this gorgeous yacht! Check out them on Audi Ultra Racing Team on Facebook too!

With a great crew to sail us around the Marina Bay, explaining to us the history, specifications, power and capabilities of this yacht. We were given a taste of her strengths and unique feature of the canting keel! Sailing around the Marina Bay is very fun and I am looking forward to the future when there are more water activities on the Marina Bay, giving this beautiful Bay area, an even greater leisure and recreational environment! Sailing around the Bay, taking photographs from the heart of the Marina Bay waters, this experience is priceless. The group of visitors on the yacht were also given a tour of the deck below the yacht, having a first hand glimpse of how yacht living is like, it’s an eye-opener!

Do check out fellow blogger’s write up on the sailing adventure together with me!

- Jerome Lim

- Leone Fabre

- Would update the links here once other fellow bloggers share about their adventures!

While it was only a short trip around the Marina Bay, it was absolutely great fun, I got myself behind the steering wheel and acted like the captain of the yacht! Returning back to shore, I was very happy to say that I was on board a modern, powerful, sporting competition yacht, the Audi Ultra Super Maxi Yacht!  This would not have been possible with the special arrangement by Juliana Tan of Marina Bay Division and the wonderful crew of the Audi Ultra Racing Team. Thank you all for this special sailing event! Check out my sailing adventures photos here!

The Audi Ultra Super Maxi Yacht is now on its way for more adventures & competitions! Wishing her crew all the best and good luck!! Hope to catch you all again at Marina Bay !!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Shooting Fireworks at Marina Bay for the past since 2007, I always have been an avid Fireworks lover, influenced by playing many   firecrackers when I was a young kid overseas during Chinese New Year Celebrations. Do check out my collection of fireworks! This year’s NDP 2011, is very special and significant for me because I was given the opportunity by LeVel33, a craft-brewery, restaurant and lounge, with such a magnificent bird’s eye view of the Marina Bay and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) who facilitated this special invitation and arrangement for me to go up with Mr Chin, another avid photographer to capture the fireworks.

I reached there at 5pm and was immediately mesmerised by the beauty, design and ambience of LeVeL33, gorgeous and classy, when I stepped out to the terrace, I was totally blown away by the beautiful scenery of Marina Bay from the 33rd floor, with an opportunity to dine, wine, relax and chill with your friends with such a magnificent landscape beauty. Yes, this is Marina Bay, located in the heart of Singapore’s CBD.

From the terrace of LeVeL33, I was able to watch the pre-parade performances from the Red Lions parachuting down from the sky landing on the Marina Bay Floating Platform, the Sea Hawk and Chinook flying below us into the Marina Bay, the National Flag Fly-Past right across our eyes and the F15 fighter jets doing the Presidential Salute, flying right above us LeVeL33. It’s really a bird’s eye view of the action and many customers at LeVeL33 are drawn to the terrace to watch the NDP 2011 action too! During my time there, I had made new friends the table beside me, had a great time sharing about my photography experiences, letting them try and hold my DSLR equipment setup and they had a nice time holding and posing with it!

While waiting for the fireworks to start at about 805pm, the changing sceneries from the evening sunset into the night from LeVeL33 is so beautiful, beyond words actually. Marina Bay Singapore definitely stands out in the world with an all rounded fun and action living and excitement. When the fireworks, started I was so happy to be able to capture it from such a bird’e eye view location!

Happy 46th Birthday Singapore!

Many Many special THANKS to LeVeL33 and URA for this special arrangement and invitation! Last but not least, enjoy the photographs on my Flickr taken from LeVeL33, you must visit them to enjoy the food, ambience and the gorgeous view of Marina Bay Singapore!

 

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Phad Thai

My all time favourite Thai dish! I don’t know why, it just taste so much nicer there in Thailand!

Ice Milk Tea

The fragrance and taste are so much nicer than the ones in Singapore and ordering it from the push cart in the their village town, the experience is priceless.

Steamed Fish

Freshly steamed fish with a variety of ingredients and spices, lime, chili, limerick, giving this freshly cooked fish a tender sweet loving taste.

We were also introduced by Sue to this wonderful restaurant known as Somboon Seafood in Bangkok, it’s Sue’s favourite restaurant and they serve interesting and delicious dishes. When we were at Somboon Seafood, the restaurant was packed with huge crowds and busy dining tables, a testimonial to the fame, reputation and standards of the dishes served in Somboon Seafood. Let me introduce to you, my dear readers, their trademark dish ~

Original Fried Curry Crab

Do not be deceived by their looks or gravy, have a taste when you are there! It’s simply awesome and superb! They are really special! These are the the details for Somboon Seafood Restaurant, if you are planning to go there, remember to make a reservation in advance! The branch we went to is the Bantadthong Branch! Do check out their website for more details!

Bantadthong Branch

895/6-21 Soi Chula 8, Bantadthong Rd.,
Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel. 02-216-4203-5
Fax. 02-216-7999

Happy eating and enjoying Thailand food! Enjoy my other Thailand food photos!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Day 1

Flying with Tiger Airways, leaving on a weekday  Wednesday morning at 0640 hours, we arrived at Bangkok International Airport, sorted our things out and we were on our way with our friendly and experienced tour bus driver and his comfortable 10 seater bus, friend of Sue’s Dad. Our first stop wasn’t Bangkok, it’s visiting Erawan Waterfall in Kanchanaburi before heading to the beautiful home stay resort in Amphawa. Before continuing on our long journey towards Kanchanaburi, we reached The Mall Bangkhae at the outskirts of Bangkok for brunch and shopping, I was highly impressed by their supermarket size and varieties, McDonalds upsized meals and pork burger!

Upon reaching Erawan National Park, after about 2-3hours of driving, we had a late lunch/tea break and it was simply superb and delicious. After our hearty meal, we rushed to trek up the Erawan Waterfall, a 7 tier waterfall due to the opening hours and could only venture up to the 2nd tier. Although it was a short trek, it was an awesome experience and view, simply superb, beautiful, peaceful, tranquil and zen, I will return again one day to conquer all 7 tier!

Upon leaving Erawan National Park, we headed to Amphawa for our home stay and it was quite a long journey due to the distances between these 2 areas. It was pretty late upon our home stay, Thanijha Healthy Resort and I loved this place! Beautiful, cosy, modern and relaxing, a boutique resort in Thai style and hospitality. Great for a small retreat too with their facilities for small meetings and discussions.

Day 2

Waking up in the early morning, to catch the sunrise and watching the locals and guests giving offerings to the monks. We had our own chance to give offerings too and learned more about the local culture and practices there, the early morning was tranquil and quiet, maybe it’s a weekday morning since Amphawa is famous for their weekend floating market, for the locals and tourists. Even though we couldn’t get to see the busy floating market community, being there and enjoying the food, culture and people was just as great and wonderful. The local wet and day markets, the local friendly Thailand folks, the cute cats & dogs too! It’s like stepping back in time for me, away from modern technology and the crazy hectic pace of city life, the slower pace of life just suits me fine during the 2 days there.

We all travel to nearby town Mae Klong with their local bus, immersing in their local activities and daily life, is definitely a very interesting adventure with language being a barrier and not really knowing how their local society operates. Sue’s dad was able to handle all of that and we really had a great adventure. The town of Mae Klong is probably quite well known around the world with their Mae Klong Market and the Mae Klong Railway, with the market stall holders keeping their shelters at a moment’s notice before the train moves through the heart of the Mae Klong Market. Once the train passed them, normal wet market operations resumed and the shelters will be returned to their original position and the locals back to their daily way of life in the wet markets. Even though I saw it on television before, being there and experiencing the train traveling past you so near in the face with all the action around it is simply an experience that cannot be felt and enjoyed watching it on the television!

Back to Amphawa, for an afternoon rest before heading out to the day markets, enjoying the local food and more street and travel photography action, before a nice Thai dinner on a floating restaurant on the river, another round of delicious Thailand food feast, that would come in another post shortly. Finishing the meal, exploring the night streets and markets of area before resting for the night. I thoroughly enjoyed my first 2 days of holiday in Thailand and hoped to return again soon for more photography adventures! Stay tuned for more of my Thailand travel adventures coming soon!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.