Kindness Day SG 2013 by Singapore Kindness Movement

ABBEY: A couple of weeks back Singa the Lion, the official ambassador of Singapore Kindness Movement in spreading good deeds to people resigned. The world celebrated Kindness Day last week and Singapore held its first Kindness Day on May 31. 

Successive Kindness Days will be on every last Friday of the month of May. It drizzled that day but the show must go on. DJs from FM radio 98 hosted it enthusiastically. Individuals and organization who showed activities of goodness were awarded a token of appreciation. 

It must not be a big act for you to be noticed; in small ways we can spread kindness like smiling or greeting people you met in elevators or giving up your seat to person who needs it more. I was teary-eyed during the ceremony as these people do "ordinary" things but made an extra ordinary impact to the recipients. 

Attendees were served a cocktail for refreshment. Free cruises on Singapore river were offered. We got our goodie bag compose of a shirt, sunflower floater, paper for making sunflower origami and discount coupons. Live bands and performers rendered their arts for entertainment. 

I hope someday I'll be able to share more kindness.

WILL: Before the posting of Yahoo! News that Singapore ranks as world's emotionless society, Prime Minster Goh aims Singapore to be a gracious society and my husband and I are supporters of his advocacy. 
      We are thrilled that our work scheduled conformed with the inaugural of the Singapore's Kindness Day last 31st of May. Not only me and hubby went there but we also asked our friend to go with us and we were happy that she agreed even it is raining so hard, well rain is a blessing from above :) 
     The event started and a very inspirational message was given by Dr. William Wan and Koh Poh Tiong. Then the token of appreciation was given to the Kindred Spirit Circle...groups doing simple things to improve the lives of others not only here but also outside of this island. Their deeds and most special message of two person behind this project moved us, they are truly correct, it takes only a smile from one man will make a difference. Let's take our part to achieve the goal of this society. 
     Me? I pledge to be more happy in answering calls from our clients. You? Will you pledge for a change? 

Disney•Pixar’s: Monsters University (2013)

ABBEY: Mike, Sulley and Boo made a great combination on Monster's Inc and I liked the movie. So I was excited when I knew that there is a prequel for that. 

As shown on the trailer, this is the story of the humble and sometimes "crazy" beginnings  of the duo; how they aspire to become the number one monster and how they did it.

WILL: I know you heard the news! Monsters Inc finally have a part two, but well not exactly second part, here we will be taken back to the time at the Monsters University. 
      As I remember the part 1 of this film, it taught me that love and happiness has a very great difference against "fear". Love being happy and happy being in love is the one of the exceptional and really powerful feeling the human will ever felt. 
      I am really excited to go back in time and watch Monsters University. I am really curious what are the curriculum on that school. Hoping a lot of laughs from Mike and Sulley. :) 

Catch Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University”in Singapore cinemas this 20 June 2013! For more updates, like the Official Walt Disney Studios Singapore Facebook Page, follow @disneystudiosSG and subscribe to the Official Disney Studios Singapore YouTube Channel!

Republic of Singapore Navy Open House /18-19 May 2013

ABBEY: After we have seen a spectacular display and show of aircrafts at the RSAF open house last 2011, we decided to attend their Navy Open House. This was last May 19 at Changi Naval Base.

After my night shift we hurried to Singapore Expo Hall 3 to ride a bus. We reached the Expo by 9 am and the queue was already at Hall 6. But the queue is moving fast. It's like your just in a walkalator :) When its our time to ride the bus, I noticed that Navy officers are putting  seals on the bus doors for every bus that is ready to go to the base. This is good security measure to ensure that all passengers of the bus passed through the checkpoints done on Expo. 

We arrived at Changi Naval base at 9:45am. We didn't waste time to strike a pose on the ships. As the sun continue to rise we cool down on one of their airconditioned-zone, the Mission zone. This tent exhibits the activities done by the Singapore Navy like peace-keeping missions, relief operations, and anti-piracy. In here also we got the chance to dress as a navy soldier with matching helmet and goggles, vest and rifle. The PA system invited all the visitors to watch the first performance of Navy on engaging on battle at sea. 

They have an equipment to locate and launch torpedo on an under the sea combat. They also showed how they communicate and operate a mission to rescue a hijacked vessel. Then at the end of the show, the submarine appeared. 

Next we went to the Heart Zone where we got our Sinagpore Navy stamps for collection. They also sell shirts and other souvenir items. We also have a couple pic courtesy of mojoideas. They also developed a game as part of the celebration, the Sea of fire. Android and iOS users can download it for free. They are also giving away souvenir badges and pens. 

Another tent houses the food and drinks carts. We got nasi lemak and chicken shawarma. We haven't got the chance to go inside the ships as the queue time is more than an hour. Given that I have not yet slept and the heat of the sun, I'll definitely collapse :) 

They also have a tent for kids wherein they can play remote-controlled boats and  target shooting games. We headed home by 1:30pm. Before riding the bus we were given bottle of water for hydration. Make sure to bring water when attending this activity and be early. By the way the event is for free.

WILL: This is why the Facebook is very useful for propagating a news, here at Republic of Singapore Navy page I saw their advertisement on their Open House 2013 event. As I was amazed with the fighter planes I saw when we went to RSAF 2011, I know my jaw dropped here too.

      I woke up 530AM and left our home 7AM, I waited for my husband to go out from office. Yes! He is from night shift and yes, he will be going with me and yes he do not have sleep! I just bought him a black coffee for some caffeine kick!

      Once we saw a queue at Singapore Expo, we immediately followed it and not more than 30minutes, we already boarded the free shuttle going to Changi Naval Base.

      Their ships are huge but do not have the guts to queue for 45minutes to go inside due to the razing heat of the sun, my husband may faint, haha.. We just took photo from outside and waited for 9:30am show.

      The Singapore Navy show-off all the skills and high-tech machines they used to defend this country 24/7. Known as the busiest port, they have a lot of duties and work to do. I am so happy that my long question of "Do Singapore have a submarine?" was answered when I saw it.

      We ate Nasi Lemak for lunch, queue for some photos together with mighty navy, then went home.

      This experience is very nice! Looking forward for another Open House! Thanks Republic of Singapore Navy for keeping us all here... SAFE!

Ramen Ten Restaurant - Singapore's First & Most Popular Halal Japanese Restaurant

ABBEY: I began to like sushi when Wilma told me to try it. We had a couple of visits on sushi bars but this is the first time on Ramen Ten . The diner is located at Level 1 of Far East Plaza in Scotts Road. This was an online group discount promo which costs $17.90. The promo consists of a bowl of ramen, a choice of your drink, and buffet of sushi (white plates only). We didn't expect the bowl of ramen that big. I almost not able to finish it. Actual price is not more $10 each bowl. I ate a lot of inari, and egg sushi as I was allergic to prawn. Its sad that the torched salmon belly is not served on a white plate else I could have eaten only those. You can also ask the chef to make you made-to-order sushi, white or any colored plate. 

WILL: Abbey is a type of guy that will go for the "usual", he doesn't hate new things but he  will always choose the things he used to do, places he used to go and restaurants he used to dined, that's why I am very surprised that he asked me out and to have lunch at the Ramen Ten at Far East Plaza. Of course, I affirmed the invitation of my husband. 
      It is a rainy sunday, when we go to Orchard to taste and be merry with sushi. It was located just in front of Royal Plaza on Scotts Road, so you will never get wrong on this mall. 
      As we enter, the crew immediately offered us a seat and we chose to seat at the counter. They informed us that we can only eat the sushis on white plates. I tried one of their sushi but it I don't like the taste of their rice, it seems the sushi is out there in the conveyor for quite some time. The rice is too hard and too cold. :( so we decided to take our ramen, included to the voucher that Abbey bought from StreetDeal. We were both shocked with the serving size of their complimentary ramen, it can occupy two rumbling tummies. The soup and noodles was so fine and delicious. 
     To stop my frustration on their conveyor sushi, I decided to give it a try on their famous spicy sushi (included in the deal), spicy prawn and spicy tofu, oishi! On the Nigiri set, I asked for spicy squid tempura and ebi fried sushi. 
     Overall I am so delighted to try this restaurant, for sure this is on my list for a spicy sushi and ramen cravings.  

Oishi Beer Match Potato Fries Tomato Ketchup Flavor

ABBEY: My first encounter of this baked snack was when I was a freshman in highschool. This is one of the chips from Beer-Match line of products. The price was 2.50php back then. Now its 1.1sgd. It comes in two flavors; plain salted and with tomato ketchup. Once you open the pack you can see fries-cut delight and it has almost the same taste as real fries. I like both flavors. It's a good thing that Potato Fries is available in Shengshiong so I can easily buy when I crave for it. Another chips we like from Beer Match is their Cracklings.

WILL: I am surprised when Abbey go back home and he got this chips. My immediate question is, "Where do you bought it?, curious with a big grin. He answered that it was from ShengSiong. I really miss this chips. 

      I think Beer-Match chips was first introduced in Philippine market when I was on my high school days, and the taste was never been compromised for more than a decade. For healthier chips, buy this potato fries, this was baked not fried. :) 

Passport Renewal & Change Surnames | Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore

ABBEY: Philippine embassy never failed me when I'm applying for my OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate); specially when the appointment was made online. Once booked, I only spend less than 30 minutes; much less time than my travel going there. 

I was skeptical and uneasy when we are about to get our passports renewed. As the others say, you have to queue early morning as it will only process a certain number of applicants. What? Back again to "primitive" process? But I was wrong, just like OEC, book online and go in there with proper documents -duly accomplished passport renewal form, photo copy of passport data page, IC, and DFA red-ribboned marriage certificate for wife who will change their names, and on your scheduled time (the Embassy advises to come exactly or 5-10 minutes before but not 2-3 hours before). 
Still there is a queue for those scheduled in specific time slots but it will not take you more than 30 minutes. Once the number is called, go inside for passport processing. Make sure to check your particulars printed on the screen or else you'll go back to square one and then put your best formal pose as this will be your photo on your passport for the next 5 years. Once done, go out and pay 102sgd at window 6. They will give you a receipt and claim stub as to when you can get your passport. 

Another good service from Philippine Embassy. Keep up the good work.

WILL: I am not just renewing my passport, I am also changing my surname. We are here in Singapore so we checked-out what are the requirements for it. Abbey only needed 1.Our Singapore NRIC 2.Old Passport and 3.Filled-up Form (make appointment here). For me, just the same but additional marrage certificate from National Statistics Office duly certified by Department of Foreign Affairs. I phoned my sister immediately and ask her to go to DFA that week for this requirement. It was February, and all the schedule was full until end of March. So we ended up first week of April. 
      After a week, I received the DFA authenticated marriage certificate and we are just waiting for our scheduled appointment. 
      Dear Kababayans, please observe the proper attire when going to our embassy as the shorts, sleeveless and slippers were prohibited inside. There is no queue when we went there and that was the result of proper planning done by our good embassy, the scheduling system really helps not to flock all the Filipinos inside the embassy. 
      As we approached the counter, an all-smile girl is there, checked our documents and put it on queue, she asked us to go inside the office and wait for our turn for them to take a photo of us. After the photo session and verifying documents, we were asked to pay at the counter. As easy as that, no fuss at all. 
     27th of May we got our new passports. :) This is a better service. Two thumbs up for this. 

Marine Life Park | Adventure Cove Water Park | Resorts World Sentosa

ABBEY:  This the second water park that we visited in Singapore. Adventure cove is in Sentosa Island. Alight at Waterfront station and then walk your way to the Maritime musuem; a little bit more and then you'll reach Adventure Cove. The fee is $29 per adult and $20 for a child. Lockers are priced at 10 and 20sgd for a day. The largest is big enough to store items of a 3-4pax-group just like we had. 

Before getting wet we strolled the park and posed for snaps. There are 6 water attractions aside from the dolphin and sting rays shows. First is the wave pool, Bluewater Bay. As usual the people will flock once the wave comes in then will disperse once the waves are gone as well. In this water attraction are the cavannas (rent is 128sgd). It has curtains on all sides for privacy and has its own shower. But you can have a free cavanna at Seahorse Hideaway just across the Bluewater Bay. 

Then we tried Dueling Racer. In this you will ride a foam board and slide headfirst. You will be pitted against an "opponent" on the other track. First one to plunge and finish wins. We also tried Riptide Rocket. You will be taken up thru a conveyor then you'll plunge onto the slide. This process repeats for 3 times. Looks like you are in a roller coaster ride. After that, we went to Pipeline Plunge and Tidal Twister. These rides will send you twisting and turning on great speed which is thrilling.

I was excited when I knew that we'll be snorkling. Rainbow Reef offers a chance to any swimmer to interact on 20,000 colorful fish. Sadly sea water got inside my goggles making me panic. But it was a good try. The water is cold and deep. For other people who doesn't want to snorkle, you can buy fish food for a dollar and feed them at the edges of the water tank. We bought corndog and hotdog sandwich for lunch on a food cart. But Adventure Cove also has the Bay Restaurant for more choices. You can also easily find a table within the park. After lunch we relaxed on Adventure river. It tours you along the theme park and gives relaxation while lying down on your lifebuoy. The last 2 attractions we tried are Whirlpool Washout (giant water drain) and Spiral Washout (giant funnel). 

We didn't try the Splashworks as we don't know how to swim :) It is the part of the park where you can dive as the pools are 4 meters deep. You can have your balancing act on a balance beam or cross a tightrope. Last stop is the big bucket tree house. We waited until the bucket fills up and enjoyed the water splash above our heads. 

Swimming apparels and souvenirs are available at Reef N Wave wear at the park's entrance. This is a good way to quench the heat of summer.

WILL: My birthday is on summer and school holiday, and yearly my mom celebrated it with a big splash... Literally splash. It is somewhat an event to look forward to, not only by my siblings but also by mom's employees' family. So here in Singapore, I brought that, now not only for my birthday but also for our wedding anniversary.
      Some people think that Singapore is a boring place, do you feel it too? Well for me and my husband, we always see to it that every month we will be going somewhere we never been in Singapore. So on month of April, we say hello to Sentosa's new family attraction... The Adventure Cove.
      I am so excited for that 8th of April, not for me to swim but to fulfill my adrenaline side needs. I am ecstatic to the slides featured in their website.
      We bought the ticket for $29 each. We rented a one big locker for $20 and as soon we locked our things, we started to roam around to take photos and make a plan where to go first, but when Chat saw the Rainbow Reef she immediately asked if she can swim with 20000 fish. I agreed and Abbey joined her, not more than 2 minutes Abbey asked the lifeguard for help and he was taken out from the water.
     We went to our lockers and put in our camera. I am here for the slides so I am so excited to take some adrenaline rush slides. Firstly we went to Dueling Racer, Abbey and Chat wants to back-out but they are already in the queue and I keep on telling them that they can make it...that they will enjoy each and every ride. Actually this slide is shorter than the one in Splash Island. Its our turn and I told both of them to go first, to make sure that they will slide down. Hehe.
     Then we tried the first hydro-magnetic coaster...the Riptide Rocket. It really made me screamed and my heart pumped up a lot. This is really fun. Whirpool Washout, Pipeline Plunge, Spiral Washout was covered. We then take the opportunity to play with the waves at Bluewater Bay.
     As our tummies protesting, we decided to eat some hotdogs and take our food and soda at Seahorse Hideaway. There we watched the kids having fun with fountains.
     I want to accomplish something so I want to conquer one of my fear. Fear to swim with the fish. Well, I failed. Not more than 2 minutes in the water, I yelled for help. Help to take me out from the large sea water aquarium.
     As we waited for Chat to finish her date with school of fish, we look on around at Splashworks. After that, we decided to checkout the Adventure River. This is really a nice thing, the best part is when the sting rays seems hitting on me. The same sting ray keep on following me.
     Like a child we waited for the water to rush down on us at the Big Bucket Tree House. Before packing up, we decided to ate some snacks and walked our way to the second floor to for us to relax and see the dolphins from above. Half an hour we already packed and ready to go to 8 Noodles located at Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa.