When we arrived at Sentosa, we were greeted by a visual feast! Everything was just so colorful and bright, so many things have changed since the last time I've been there! (I'd better look for my old photos so I can compare them better hee.)

Who can resist having her photo taken at the iconic Universal Studios globe? Not me!

Even the music coming from the theme park brings back happy memories of childhood :)

Quite possibly the most sinful place there LOL, Hershey's Chocolate World! The store features rows upon rows and endless shelves of chocolate-y heaven!

And quite possibly my favorite place in Sentosa, Candylicious! Candy overload, I tell ya! Too bad taking photos is not allowed inside the store, even looking at them is enough to give anyone a sugar rush ;D

Me with the Jelly Belly's :)

What they said.

Mich and Frank :)

Ladies with the M&M's :D

Merlion

We were able to go to Siloso Beach and watch surfers do their thing at the Artificial Waves there. Hot guys surfing (even in artificial waves), fun! :D We also went to the Underwater Park but that deserves a separate blog entry (because I love fishies :)). And because a day is not enough, we went back the next day to ride the cable car and watch Songs of the Sea. I'll tell you more about them in the next posts. ;)

*98% of the photos featured here are from my friend Frank.

I've never been "experimental" when it comes to food. I love veggies, yes, but there are lots of things I don't eat. Papaya, avocado, kiwi, and atis are just some of the fruits I don't eat. My favorites are citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, though. I also am not a fan of mayonnaise and dislike dipping my food in different kinds of sauce like fish sauce, vinegar, and soy sauce. But I assure you, despite my thin frame and permanent state of underweightness (that's not even a word heh), I am not anorexic nor do I have any eating disorders whatsoever.

Anyway, for my trip to Singapore I've decided to be more "experimental" and try to not limit myself to fried chicken or pork chops just for the heck of it. What follows is a parade of photos of all the food I ate while in the Lion City :)

On our last night there we stopped by the Barbecue Pit in Costa Sands Resort because Ate Lani's family invited us to a party they held for her son Lawrences' birthday. We had yummy barbecue and spaghetti but I wasn't able to take photos anymore. Just believe me when I say they're delicious.

I admit I am not good at taking photos of food and I have limited skills when it comes to describing how a specific dish tastes like but I hope you enjoyed this post :)

We reached Singapore at exactly 11:55PM on October 25. My good friend/ officemate Marsha's childhood friends (who are already based there) Ate Lani and Ate Sally met us there and let us stay the night (since we will check in at the chalet the next day). In the last five years since I've been there, there have been sooo many changes. It's amazing how their country has advanced so fast.

Blame my biological clock, but no matter how late I slept the night before, I always manage to wake up early. The next morning, I woke up with a bright smile because I was set to meet with my friend Genily! Genily was a very good friend and classmate in college who has worked and resided in the Lion City for two years now. It was  actually the first time I saw her again after our graduation so you can just imagine how excited I was!

She agreed to fetch me at the Simei MRT Station which was only a few blocks away from Ate Lani's house. I was so happy when I finally got to see her again that I even teared up! While gabbing away, we waited for her boyfriend Michael who served as our tour guide and photographer (heh) for the day :)

Our first plan was to visit Singapore Zoo but it got cancelled so they brought me to the place I really, really wanted to see: Marina Bay Sands! Before that though, we went through the different malls adjacent to the City Hall station. They were so kind to give me an EZ-link card that is used to ride the MRT and the bus. From Simei, we rode the MRT to the City Hall station.

Can you see that amazing building behind me? Awesome, right?

If that was a pool I would be so tempted to jump already :D

Candid shot :D

From the Esplanade, we had a long and tiring but fun walk to the Marina Bay Sands area.

The Singapore Flyer! I wanted to ride it at first but they said the price is not worth it.

This bridge looks like the one in the Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince movie :)

Going nearer!

Photo-op with the Chanel wall :D

And we reached it! Okay, this may sound corny and all, but I've been reading a lot about Marina Bay Sands from the time it was still being constructed and I was so amazed at its grandiose architecture. Imagine an infinity pool 55 storeys up! Seeing the world's most expensive hotel up close felt so surreal. I wish I can stay there someday, even just for a night :)

♥

Michael and Genily also accompanied me back to Ate Lani's house for me to get my luggage and check them in at the Costa Sands Resort in Pasir Ris where we will stay for the rest of our holiday. From there, Marsha, LJ and I went to the airport to fetch our other travelmates Mich, Frank, Ate Mitch and Kuya Joel :)

Reunited :)

Ate Lani, LJ, Frank, Marsha, me, Mich, Ate Mitch, Kuya Joel in Ate Lani's house

It was my first 24 hours in Singapore and I already enjoyed it so much. Wait'll you hear about my other stories ;)

Technically, what we really commemorate every November 1st is the All Saints' Day while All Souls' Day is "celebrated" on the next day, the 2nd. In the Philippines though, it has become customary for the Filipinos to go to the cemeteries to visit their departed beloveds every first of November. It serves as a mini reunion of sorts where family and friends gather to light candles, offer flowers, and say prayers. When I was still very young, I was told by my grandmother that the smoke coming from the lit candles and the scent of the flowers carry our prayers to the dead souls in heaven. I don't know why but I have always found comfort in that thought. 

Every November 1st, aside from visiting my paternal grandmother's grave at the Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Park, my family and I go to the Immaculate Garden Memorial Park just across the street from where we live to visit the grave of my sister Kim. She was premature-born and lived for only eight days. I can still remember her, lying peacefully as if she was just sleeping in her casket bedecked with flowers. It was heartbreaking how she looked like a little doll. If she was still alive, she would have been fourteen years old now. I was not able to see her during the eight days she was alive as I was still ten years old then and wasn't allowed to visit the hospital. Sometimes I wonder how life would have been if she was here with us. Earlier today, I realized I need not wonder. I know and accept that she is in a much happier place now, looking over us. By her grave, I said my prayers and hugged my eleven year old sister Kyla.

My friends from high school and I also have this tradition of meeting up every November 1 taking part in one another's family reunions and having slumber parties after. I wasn't able to go last year because of work, so I made sure that I took a vacation leave from work today. However, all of them were tied with other commitments so we weren't really able to meet up. It's kinda sad, really, how these mini traditions seemed to have been forgotten once "real life" kicked in, but I guess I couldn't really blame them. I just miss them, is all, and I really hope I can get to see them later this month on my close friends Jella's and Dianne's birthday celebrations. 

I still cannot believe it's already November and there are only two months left before the year comes to a close. Another year will come in and more changes will come. With it, mini traditions will be (inevitably but I most certainly hope not) forgotten. I am hoping though that this November 1 tradition will not be neglected. I for one would personally appreciate candles lit, flowers offered, and prayers said for me when it's my turn to go Up there.

For this month's Pretty Little Things entry, I decided to post about the things I got for myself from my trip and the gifts I got from my friends. Oh the joys of shopping and being given presents!

Before we left, my Mom asked Marsha to "control" me as I have the tendency to go a *cough*little*cough* bit overboard. I must say I am proud of myself because I was able to muster enough sense to hold on to my Singaporean dollars when it came to shopping for myself so that I can buy more presents for friends and family because I am sweet and thoughtful like that.

For myself, I got these:

See? See? See? I didn't go overboard at all!

Aaand because I have the sweetest friends, I got these:

I super love the color of the vest, it will go so perfectly with my white tops and denim shorts (plus the new sandals I got). And as proof that great minds think alike, I actually wanted to get that tumbler for myself and almost wanted to kick myself for not buying one when I had the chance. Funny how the Starbucks branches seemed to have disappeared when I already wanted to get it, eh? That's why I was so stoked when I unwrapped Nashe's present! Thank you girls, your gifts are much appreciated! I hope you also liked the stuff I got you, and Nashe, enjoy Jake! :D

Shopping in Singapore is ♥! But come to think of it, shopping anywhere is ♥! More posts about my trip coming up ;)