The Istana is the official residence of the President of Singapore. Istana is a malay word for Palace. Just like any presidential palace it is where the setting president receives and entertains state guests. The building was completed in 1869 and gone major renovation in 1996 and was completed in 1998.
The Istana is sited on top of a hill in a100 acres land along Orchard Road. During national holidays, the Istana grounds is opened to the public from 8:30 to 6:00 pm and admission is free for Singaporeans and for others including tourists are required to pay an entrance fee of $1 per person. There are a variety of performances on the grounds at certain time during the day. Visitors can have photos taken with the President when he come by to greet visitors.
Two Saturdays ago I spent an afternoon at the roof garden of the Esplanade for a photo shoot. Because it was that afternoon were the full rehearsal of the National Day Parade was held. Though the parade ground is at The Padang, this year's venue for the annual National Day Parade, but some of the activities can be viewed from the roof garden.
One of the highlights of the Singapore River Festival this year is the aerial aquatic show named 'Air- A spectacular by the river'. Air which is malay word for water features a combination of theater, acrobatics, and dance on and above the river.
The show starts at Read Bridge which serves as a performing stage and in between an aerial acrobatics above the river with steel wire rigging.
Situated along the Mandai Lake road, the Mandai Orchid garden is one of the orchid farms in Singapore that houses a wide selection of hybrid orchids on a hillside of a forested area. The garden is just a stone throw away from the serene Mandai Lake. One of the country's tourist attractions, it's main highlight is showcasing a wide variety of orchids planted and arranged in massed beds in exposed environment.
Last friday night, I was at the Esplanade Park and Empress Place to witness the opening act of the Singapore Arts Festival 2010, the An Invitation to Dream - A Fire Garden Installation.
The fire garden installation features thousands of firepots scattered, attached, hanged, curtained in the Esplanade park, outside Victoria Theatre, and the Empress Place grounds with accompanying live music in three mock up stages, and two radio installations.
Yesterday I finally got to check the Kranji Memorials in Old Woodlands Road and if not for the visit I was not able to learn more the place. You see I have known the place only as a war memorial honoring the thousands of men and women who died during World War 2. Little did I know that it's more that that. After the visit I learned that the whole complex is made up actually of three cemeteries
The pedestrian bridge which serves as a direct connection between the Marina Center to the Bayfront area where the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort is located was officially named "The Helix" last Saturday night against a backdrop of pyrotechnic show.
Earth hour, Every hour was observed here in Singapore just like in any major cities around the world.
Before
It was unintentional to be at the Botanic Garden that day I have visited the place. What happened was that after I picked up a document at an institution at the Bukit Tinggi Road, the bus that I had taken going to Orchard Road happened to pass at the Botanic Garden, without second thought I immediately alighted at the bus stop few meters from the main gate. Since I have photography class in the evening I had my camera with me. I did not explore the whole of the complex and was just walking on a slow pace for say an hour as it was mid afternoon
This is another part of the Chinese New Year festivities in Singapore. River Hongbao is a lantern installations at the floating platform at the Marina Bay that runs for nine days. The lanterns depicted were the god of fortune, the chinese zodiacs, panda playground, tiger mountain and more.There were stage performances nightly at the central stage. There is also a foodcourt in one section, a small bazaar, and the carnival rides! I was able to visit the place on the last night.
Another event that took place last Saturday was the Thaipusam festival wherein Singaporean Hindus in the street procession coming from one temple to another four kilometers away traversing major streets of Singapore. I caught the procession along Tank Road while I was on my way to the Singapore Art Museum. This is my second time to witnessed such event.
Thaipusam is a Hindu thanksgiving celebration in honor of Lord Murugan who represents virtue, youth and power and is the destroyer of evil. Devotees carry milk-pot offerings and others attach kavadis (large metal frames) to their bodies using hooks and spikes! The kavadi bearers were joined by relatives and co devotees who
The Marina Bay in downtown Singapore was the center of new year celebration here in Singapore. I'll let the pictures do the talking! Welcome 2010.. I missed the firecrackers back home.
The whole week leading to Christmas day, the stretch of Orchard road was literally filled with people. And on Christmas day it was closed to traffic. The center of Christmas celebration here in Singapore is concentrated on Orchard Road.
This year show is better than last year, it is a theatre act on Nativity story.
Enjoy the pictures.
According to survey Singapore is ranked 10th most expensive city worldwide kasunod ang Hongkong though labas ang Hongkong sa top 10 kasi ranked 11th sila. Tokyo and Osaka topped as the world's most expensive cities for expatriates taking the position of 1st and 2nd respectively.
I am mentioning here only cities in Asia na pasok as most expensive cities ranked by EIU.
Singapore is ranked first and Bangkok is second kung pag-uusapan naman ang cities within the southeast asia, being Bangkok on the 72th worldwide and Kuala Lumpur is 90th.
The basis of the survey was by comparing the cost of products and services of the 140 cities. Survey was aimed at helping companies calculate allowances for executives and their families being sent overseas
I am not an expatriate, but let me see really how much it cost me to stay here in Singapore.
My small room in an HDB flat cost me $400 a month all inclusive. The room is not air-conditioned but comes with a stand fan. It has a single bed, a wardrobe, a dresser, and a small working table. I brought in my tv set.
I am taking MRT when reporting to work, occasional taxi, and bus. My transportation expenses in a month is $150 on average.
I cook sometimes on weekend whenever I crave for home cooked food. I know how to cook adobo, sinigang, nilaga, tinola, no pork allowed. As cooked fish is expensive, if I want to eat one I cook and always by the oven. But most of the time I buy my food outside. Lunch just now is Mc chicken burger meal that cost $6.10 in nearby Mc Donalds. My monthly food expense is $500.
I watch movie, malling, occasional beer night-out and my budget for these is $200. If I bought something in a mall I charged it. Last night while on my way home I pass by the mall since it was raining, had dinner and purchased 2 backpacks (sale kasi) that costs me $125.
My monthly mobile phone bill is $110 on average. My internet, landline, and cable tv monthly pay is $115.
So that's the reason why I still end up not earning much at the end of the month.
If I stay in Manila I would be spending just a fraction of that.
Which brings to this, according to the same survey Manila is one of the cheapest city to live worldwide being rank 98th, in the same level of Kathmandu, New Delhi, Mumbai where the slumdog millionaire came from. And Karachi ang pinacheap.
Cheap nga siguro talaga sa Manila o cheap nga ba talaga?