Ballet Under The Stars - Giselle

After 26 years, I finally watched my first live ballet show! To make things better, it's actually free! Thanks to Fitness First for a pair of the tickets ^^

Ballet Under The Stars - Poster @ Fort Canning Green

The first comic book I read and reread when I was 7 was Mari-Chan, which talk about the life of girl who dedicated her life for ballet. Subsequent 50+ comics I read were also about ballet, so I have a very strong feeling towards this particular dance :D I remember how I used to try following some of the steps but failed miserably XD

This is the first time I went to Fort Canning as well, and we were lost for almost half an hour around Dhoby Ghaut area trying to figure out where is the stage. The whole area is called Fort Canning and the direction wasn't really helpful (rarely happen but still!) We finally reached the place at around 5.30pm, collected the ticket, then wait for the gate to be opened at 6pm. The queue was really long by the time the gate is open.

Fort Canning Centre - We thought the place is here, but... wrong.

This is the right gate! Not even sure if it has a name

The queue of people waiting to get in, behind us! ha.

Being an ignorant newbie to this whole thing, I assumed hell lots of stuff and didn't do my research properly. For one, I didn't know that it's actually outdoor. I thought it will be at some sheltered area because it's said as rain or shine event. For second and the worse, I didn't know that we're supposed to do a picnic there!! There is no seat provided and we supposed to bring our own mat =.=' failed max. Every other people comes prepared with their own mat and delicious food (pasta, sushi, pizza, mcd, etc), and I quietly cursed myself for not researching properly.

Thankfully, we got ample of time from the chopping seat until the start of the show at 7.30pm. Winson bought some sandwich from 7-11 (which is surprisingly really delicious!) and I went to PS to bought us more snacks. We were happily full by the time the show started.

A huge mat with its own branding - our saviour! $6

The rubber band which served as re-entry ticket. Anyone wants it let me know

Our dinner ^^

First time watching performance like this :x I will prepare better next time!

The show started at 7.30pm and we're not supposed to take any pics of the show :x I know. But I can't resist. The show was so beautiful. I took few pics - hope they will forgive me. It won't impact their sales, I promised.

Act 1 - When Giselle met the Prince!

Beginning of Act 2 - Quite Scary with Giselle's ghost dancing around!

Elegant Ghosts XD

I really love Giselle by the end of the show. The performer was amazing!

I totally enjoyed my virgin ballet experience, under the stars :D It's as good as how I wish it to be. If there is next time, I would like to watch Swan Lake in Esplanade! Still waiting to do my first visit to Esplanade theatre :p

Now I feel like doing picnic again!

ED

Saturday Lunch @ Pagi Sore, 100AM

I woke up really late today. We went searching for lunch at 3pm and bumped to Pagi Sore @ 100AM. The restaurant looks similar to Ayam Penyet Restaurant, but with 5-star hotel's price. We went in anyway since we're starving and not sure where else to go.

Just a glance and I know that our lunch is gonna be on a higher end

Free flow of rice for $1.5! I had 3 packs ^^;

Ayam Panggang Bali - $14.8

Rendang Sapi - $12.8

Tahu Telor - $10.8

Total bill goes to $48. The food was really good, but I should just order two items instead of three T_T Too full after lunch and feel sleepy the whole day XD

Too much of good food,

ED

Friday Dinner @ Canton Paradise, Star Vista

We have been wanting to try it out for awhile, but the long queue always put us off. This time around, we had some craving for Chinese food, which give us the patience to wait in the queue.

Waiting with prepared order list.

We waited for around 20 mins before finally getting a table. Food was served real fast (in 5 mins) and the service was really good. Yet! The most important part - the food quality, was really decent. The real thing didn't look anything like the image in the picture ^^; I still prefer my usual Crystal Jade La Mien.

It's Signature Prawn Wantoon

My Century Egg Porridge - The rice was quite soft!

One of their signature dim sum... again I can't remember the name :p

We ate to the total of $24 - ok I guess, but I'm yet to find their signature dish which would make me come back for more :p

Till the next craving then,

ED

Mini SCE Reunion @ Jamie's Italian

Jamie's is in the house! Can't believe that I got a chance to try it one week after its opening ^^ Thanks to Edmond and Helios for queuing up :p

Mini SCE Reunion - Thanks Helios for organizing!

Jamie's Italian is located at one of the corners at Vivocity Level 1. Vivo has changed so much! Despite going there every other week, I still kept finding new restaurants there. Opposite Jamie's was a Poulet O.O Don't know since when it exists.

Jamie's Italian!

I was quite surprised with the decoration. I thought it will be a bright family restaurant type. Turned out to be a bar type. Slightly disappointed as I don't like loud place. 

The interior - I'm still curious if those are real bread

The one pager menu!

Tagliatelle Bolognese - $22++

Prawn Linguine - $25++

The Jamie's Italian Burger - $27.5

Famous Polenta Chips - $7.5

 There was nothing fancy about the food :( Well, at least my burger doesn't meet my expectation. It's too small and dry and tasteless for a 30 bucks burger. The Pasta looks much better - maybe I will try it if I ever go back again. The Polenta Chips was quite unique, but not as special as, lets say, KFC's cheese fries :p

The bill :D comes in cute box.

Had fun chatting with the guys. It finally came to my realisation that majority of my friends are taking Master degree!! Helios is going to take Master in Computer Science, Edmond is taking Master in Information System, Adi has finished Master in Finance. Talking with them making me wanting to do the same! I'm really impressed with their determination.

Maybe I should start hunting for Master programme instead of hunting for food,

ED

Gilbert's Office Meeting - Quite True for my case!

LOL!

Hate meetings, yet I'm the one scheduling most of them T_T

ED

Henry's Farewell @ Indramaya, Nirwana Resort, Bintan

Finally got a chance to visit Bintan! :D Thanks to Tomy for the Villa and Fendi for being such a great tour guide ^^

Saturday, 20th July 2013

Tomy got us a 4-days posh villa for $250. Super good deal that make me wish to work in his company too. There are 13 of us and we split the departure to 2 trips. The first one went on Friday night. I followed the second trip which went on Saturday morning, 8AM! Took a taxi to the Ferry Terminal, which is quite reasonable after split to 4 (approx $8 / person).

Ticket collection @ Bintan Resort Ferries :D $68.4 for roundtrip

We're here again! Tanah Merah Cruise Terminal

The group 2! In the ferry waiting for departure

The ferry actually looks quite clean compared with the one to Batam :p

Snacks - at quite a reasonable price

It was early in the morning and I felt quite sleepy. I dozed off before the ferry departed and by the time I opened my eyes... it's Bintan!

Bintan terminal view, taken from the Ferry :D

Our driver for the day, Renold, picked us up and we went directly to the resort. The resort is located really close the terminal, around 15 mins by car. Alas, the resort is huge. So huge that we got lost for another 15 mins trying to figure out the place. It was 10.30am by the time we reached the Villa.

First time staying in such a huge villa!

The swimming pool! You'll play a important role soon

Master room! There are 2 other big common rooms as well

The key to all the fun

After a quick freshen up, all of us (except July who insisted to write thesis at the villa), started our adventure to Tanjung Pinang! It was lunch time but we don't really know many places, so we left it to the driver to recommend food. Turn out that most places were closed because of fasting month T_T We ended up at Sei Enam seafood, which served decent food, but nothing great :(

Otah + Teh Botol :D The Otah is actually quite good!

Three wise monkeys pose while waiting for food XD

Itadakimas! The signature was the Siput GongGong. But it looks really huge and scary we didn't finish it

Group pics after the lunch!

After lunch, we went to the biggest mall in Tanjung Pinang, which turned out to be smaller than a heartland mall T_T There is only one supermarket + one timezone in the mall. We ended up playing some games at Timezone.

These many tix = 1 small pack of chips

Next stop was a temple - don't really know the temple name but supposely one of the biggest temple around the area. There was another big temple called 500 luohan, too bad it was closed for renovation T_T

Stopped at side road for some snacks :p everything for Rp 500! O.O

At the Buddhist Temple :D

At Banyan Tree Temple! Look at the roots!

At yet another temple with cute statues!

Finished with our temple visit, we went to Trikora beach and spent some time relaxing there ^^ The weather was good and there aren't so many people around. We slept, camwhore, jumped around the places XD

Love the Trikora Beach!

After beaches, we decided to go back to the resort (since nothing much else to see as well), but made a stop at Pasar Oleh-Oleh for delicious dinner :D

This nice delicious fried rice is Rp 15,000!

Went to the small shop and bought cup noodle XD

Reached back Villa at around 7.30pm and started to entertain ourselves with the many things - food, games, ktv, swimming pool.

I can't believe this thing still exist! Found it at the small shop

Our snacks!

Oh I missed the Nasi Padang already @ Rp 30,000

After two hours of relaxing, we decided that it's time for the highlight of the trip - the throwing of Henry to the pool! :D We planned it so carefully that he didn't suspect it at all (or he is just too innocent). Different people executed different checklist before the ceremony. "Do you have a change of cloth?", "Do you have your wallet in your pocket?", "Where is your handphone?" After we got all the checklist ticked, we kicked-off the execution.

The guys carrying him to the pool with Inche supervising :p

The point of no return

Mission Accomplished!

Once he got out from the pool, we passed Rina and Henry a couple Danmark Tshirt :D Two of our friends are flying over to Danmark T_T sad and happy at the same time.

Danmark - All Together :D

The Family Pic + Shivering Guy

Family Pic - Guy Side XD

We continued playing until 1am and I went sleeping afterwards, sharing a king size bed with Inche and Jess :D

Sunday, 21st July 2013

The next day, I woke up at 9am, had a nice swimming + breakfast, then went out on buggy to the beach nearby. Weather was really sunny - good time to take pics!

Mayang Sari Beach!

Silhouette Pose! I love the coconut tree! Lol

Lunch was at the resort area as well - Makan Makan food court. The food looks delicious but I was too full after my breakfast at 11am, so decided to be there and watch others eat.

BBQ Chicken - $8 @ Makan-Makan

We spent the rest of the evening playing pool + KTV. We wanted to book the private room for KTV, but it has been booked but another bunch of people, so we ended up at the free public KTV, which turned out to be a big private KTV since no one else was there.

Our KTV Room XD

The Singers :p We just need to order $3 drink to stay there

We went back at around 6pm and had our last nasi padang before bidding good bye to the resort.

The right way to eat nasi padang - with hand! :D

Sunset Beach! Took the pic 2 mins too late T_T

Waiting for the bus to carry us to the ferry

We reach the Ferry Terminal at around 7.30pm and took the last ferry back to Singapore at 8.15pm. I reached back Singapore at around 10pm. Thanks God we managed to get taxi and reached back home at 11pm. Knocked down at 12am for a good night sleep.

Honestly, there is nothing much at Bintan - expensive food and so-so beach. But I had much fun thanks to the companions :D :D

Biggest overnight outing yet!
ED