Happy 50th Birthday Singapore (SG50)

ABBEY: I've been here in Singapore for 6 years now. And coming from a not so progressive country, I can clearly see the difference. 

In terms of security, first and foremost, it was great. No worries if you left office late at night; you can enjoy chatting with your friends in your mobile devices. You can even use your phone to save your table while buying your food. And most of all, you can wear your backpack on both shoulders.

With less tax being withheld, we can save more of our salaries. You can breathe fresh air the whole day not only in the morning. Yes, MRT has service disruption, but compared to where I came where delay is a normal occurence, the service is efficient. And free buses are readily available when disruption happens. Taxi fare will be metered, not in a contract and most of the drivers are polite and friendly. You can ask directions if you're a tourist or just read the signs and you'll never get lost. Shop till you drop or go to their museums to learn their history. Diversity is everywhere; food, culture, race, religion and lifestyle but still they are united when it comes to being patriotic. 

I know there is still more for this country to progress and excel. Thanks Singapore for allowing me to live, work, and enjoy my stay at this little red dot. Little it seems but have big impact on the world. Happy Birthday.

WILL: Singapore... My second home. 

Thank you Singapore for the water on tap that is potable. Thank you for peaceful, secured place to live in. Thanks for the unpolluted air. Thanks for the trees and chirping birds. Thanks for the kind locals that surrounds us on our daily lives. Thanks for diversified cuisines in hawkers. Thanks for an opportunity to work in here. Thank you for protecting us consumers and commuters. Thanks for sharing to us how live in a first world country. Thank you. Thank you. 

In touring different sites and museums of Singapore, Abbey and I learned how you reached the top. How everybody worked to change and reach the goal. 

Majulah Singapura! Forward! Forward!  

High Tea Buffet @ Marriott Cafe, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

ABBEY: Normally, the buffet we are going to is for lunch and dinner but this time, we went for high tea. It was at Marriot Cafe at Orchard. 

All the while, I'm thinking it will all be shortcakes, cold cuts, pastries, coffee and tea. Whoa, I was wrong. They are serving local delis. From Hainanese chicken rice, Hokien Mee to Nasi Lemak, you can have a couple of plates. They also have braised, duck and pork as well as bak kut teh. I indulged myself with slices of salmon. From time to time, I had a bite of their prata and chicken nuggets. I keep coming back for beef rendang, spicy but delicious. When we visited, they are offering 20sgd per person promotoion.

Room of improvements though: Don't try to hide the burnt side of prata, it cannot be hidden. Just don't serve it. For the crispy fried chicken, please try to completely fry it. I can still see the uncooked batter inside. And when making nigiri, make sure that the nori strip is fully wrapped around it. The ones I had have nothing at the bottom.

WILL: This is our first time to experience a high tea buffet and we are happy that it happen it at one of the most prestigious hotel here in Singapore... the Marriott Hotel Orchard. We arrived few minutes after 3pm but we stayed until 5:15pm for us to maximise the value of $20++ promotion. 

After we were escorted to our reserved seats, we immediately paved our way to roam around and check out the arrays of food available. Since we are pretty hungry (we didn't take our lunch that time) we are very happy to see few viands for us to enjoy. So I got some of their fish curry and chicken plus few pieces of prata. Not so many choices of sushi but still I took 4 of it. Fresh oysters are present, salmon strips for your bread and laksa, their delicious laksa(drooool). 

Time to get some desserts so I went for blueberry crepe and topped it two scoops of ice cream. 

Rest for a while then I ate muffin and pizza. Can I say something? Please improve the taste of those two. I only got a one bite of those and pushed my plate away to Abbey. 

I enjoyed this happy and excellent experience for us as a couple. Thanks Marriott Cafe. Till next buffet!

Wink Optics Singapore - Optometrist, Eyewear (OPTICAL SHOP)

ABBEY: Another year has passed and time for our specs to change again. Since we are getting new every year, we opted for glasses with cheaper prices. 

As long as it protects our eyes from computer radiation, changes the shades when outdoors and of course the right grade or power for eyes, we are ok. We tried Wink Optics (Seletar Mall branch). For a fraction of the cost (178SGD) from our previous purchase, we bought our new set of eyes. And after a week, we are able to use them. 

WILL: Many optical shops are out there offering promotions as part of Great Singapore Sale. And for our annual eye check-up/change specs, it is my duty to scout for great quality for a lower price. Then I saw Wink Optics. 

They are having a 50% off on the second pair and the most nice part is frames+lenses were only $98 and above. 

We headed to their Seletar Mall branch after our hike at MacRitchie Reservoir. Our eyes were checked (nothing changed) and we have some request to the lenses that alters the price a bit. Abbey wants, of course, a transition lenses and I asked for a Hoya brand lenses that will help blocked radiation from computers. 

We were shocked after the computation of the bill. Both of our specs cost almost of only Abbey's spec last year which we got from Owndays. 

Now we're wearing the glasses for more than a week, for me the lightness as a whole is great and the lenses gave me relief on a whole day staring at computer monitors. 

Next time for a cheaper alternative, review all the prices and better get it during Great Singapore Sale time. :)