165 – The Monching Visits Singapore (Day 1)

At the waiting area.

Ready to board!

13 July, 01:00 – 05:40

I’ve been awake for a long time now; since 11 in the evening yesterday, to be exact. Reminds me of the time when I had to stay up when I was working at a graveyard shift. Only this time—it’s for something I really like to do. CJ and I have waited for around four hours, more or less. Thankfully, she bought some coffee and croissants from Café France nearby. I guess I’ll make up for lost sleep once we’re on board the plane.

A full spread. (Clockwise from upper left: yogurt with granola, pandesal, chicken patties with hash browns and tomato mushroom omelette, caramel bar, and pineapple chunks.)

13 July, 07:00 – 10:00

Breakfast service has commenced, and I chose the chicken patties with hash browns for my meal. Seeing how complete Philippine Airlines’ service is, I’d say that the national carrier is a better choice than those economy airlines for anyone who is flying overseas. I then sleep after filling out some immigration forms. Three hours later, we land at Changi Airport—the world’s best.

First taste of Singapore at Eng’s Wantan Mee.

Red braised pork, bok choy, noodles, and small wantons in soup.

A dry version of the previous.

Fried wantons for appetizers.

The soup base, served separately if you like dry noodles.

13 July, 13:00 – 14:30

We got lost on the way to our Airbnb place after hopping off the wrong bus stop. Fortunately, we found the flat—located along Tanjong Katong Road—and left our things before touring the city. Lunch wasn’t a problem, as Eng’s Wantan Mee was nearby. This noodle joint has its roots in a hawker stall, and is much known for serving noodle soup with fried dumplings and red braised pork slices. CJ and I ordered two servings of this soup, with an additional order of fried dumplings. With bellies full, we went on to our next destination.

Signage near the gate.

Historical data about the British surrender.

Overlooking Bukit Timah Road.

Before going to Haw Par.

13 July, 15:00 – 16:45

First stop: the Former Ford Factory located in Bukit Timah Road. This industrial complex churned out Ford vehicles in its first life, until the onset of World War II. Lt. Gen. Arthur Percival and Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita (the rumored treasure’s namesake) signed the Malaya surrender declaration in the factory’s boardroom, leading to the fall of Singapore. Today, the factory is a museum showcasing the Malayan Front and life in the Lion City during the occupation years. Entrance cost us around S$4 per person, and we opted to explore the museum ourselves instead of joining the guided tours.

Before entering the park.

I’m about to discover the Tiger Balm legacy.

13 July, 17:00 – 19:00

We then headed to Haw Par Villa along Pasir Panjang Road after this. I won’t be delving too much on this theme park since I am dedicating an entire post to it. But just to give you an idea, it’s a park featuring dioramas of figures from Chinese mythology and folklore. It was built by the Aw brothers—Boon Haw and Boon Par—whose claim to fame is the ever-potent Tiger Balm. Good thing a train station is located just near the park’s entrance.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

The eponymous bayfront.

Sparkling water: a good way to wean yourself off soft drinks.

TWG’s hot tea here can hold up to five cups.

Cold tea for her.

Chicken and okra in green curry rice, with tea-infused sauce.

Mashed potato and beef pie with cucumber and tomato slices.

Caramel tart topped with strawberry wedges and caramel crunch candy.

Strawberry tiramisu, I think?

13 July, 19:30 – 21:00

Our last stop for the day was at Marina Bay Sands, located in front of the eponymous bay. The sun doesn’t set in Singapore until about 7:30 in the evening. Lights at the other side of the bay front, and a lot of joggers doing their nightly rounds. We roamed around Shoppes by The Bay, their version of Greenbelt (a high-end Philippine mall). Of course, TWG Tea‘s branch here was part of our itinerary. You’ve already seen a bunch of my posts about the Singaporean tea purveyor, so it was obligatory for us to dine where they started out. Both of us got the set meals they were offering, and we were satisfied. Apparently, they have the same level of service with the Philippine counterpart.

The Rain Oculus.

The Cloud Forest.

View from below.

13 July, 21:30 – 23:00

We walked some more to let the food go down, exploring other sights along the way. Saw the Cloud Forest, Rain Oculus, Helix Bridge, and Gardens by the Bay. It’s amazing how people here are disciplined, a far cry from the Philippines. Safe and clean are the two words I can use to describe Singapore, and that’s just in the span of almost 24 hours. CJ and I then called it a day, and rode the tube towards our place.

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