Going back to my roots...

I keep on lagging when it came to my trip last March, 

busy with a lot of things and getting back to our regular routine so...

I wanted to blog about it because I am so happy that I was able to do that trip for myself.

I love the lyrics from the Beatles song, "In my life"

* This was our first home in Manila as a married couple

....it was once green (gate)

There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

I was glad because I was able to see all my relatives except one who was also in Canada (Toronto)

Ironic, eh? I flew all the way across the globe to see all the relatives and end up not seeing the one who is in the same country as me...

MANILA

* With the cousin who was my confidante when I was young...

with her triplets!!!

* With Eileen, the cousin who has been in contact 

with me even from afar from time to time just to say HI!

* Kimi with Amah Betty, The triplet's grandmom :)

* With my inaanak (god daughter), she is sooo big na! 

* With Ahya Dennis from SG to vacation and Auntie See Eng

* A Simple Reunion dinner :)

we should do this regularly, I mean they should do it regularly...

* 4 Generations of Beauty... ha ha!

* Pose!

* Famileeeee

* Like a Family... Kristine and Candy

*Such a Sweetheart, Candy

SINGAPORE

* Sentosa with Ahya Mike, the eldest cousin on the Tan relative

* Jason, my cousin who used to follow me around

...but now, he is sooo independent na!

* My gwapitong cousin, Lyndon who used to play word factory with me

he loves a challenge and is a smart cookie! 

* So tall too!

* Tickled (by) fish

* The Expectant father, Kingsley (in black), who I used to chat about everything under the sun

When we were kids, I used to sleep at my grandparents house and he would wait for my lola to sleep (snoring) and he would crawl to our bed, to talk. Miss those times...

It seemed surreal that I was able to travel with a toddler on a plane for 13 hours approximate, attend a party, reunions continuously and then from Manila, travel to Singapore all in just 2 weeks and 3 days and bring home a treasure of memories which will last me.... till my next one. :). It was like a dream, except- IT WAS REAL! :)

Makansutra: Gluttons Bay

I wanted to experience Singapore street food...

Thanks to my cousin Lyndon for touring us for a taste of the real Singaporean taste test...

I asked my cousin where he was taking us for a real Singaporean experience...

he replied: MAKANSUTRA....

whaaat!? ....sutra? 

If he told me right off the bat the english name then I would have realized that it was a food strip...

the place- GLUTTONS BAY

Gluttons - love of food...

* GLUTTONS BAY

* FRIED CHICKEN WINGS...

yummmmmyyy

* CEREAL PRAWNS

...my fave! I am hoping we have something that resembles that dish here in Canada

You can eat everything, even the head of the prawns...

* I forgot the exact name but this is a bit on the spicy... but great too

* FRIED RICE... A staple in every meal

* MILK TEA...

* * * * *

MAKANSUTRA, Gluttons Bay

Singapore

Beaches inside Sentosa Island

Inside are 3 beaches

I, of course, went to Palawan beach...

Yes, I am now in Singapore and yet I still look for the Philippine beach, in SINGAPORE! 

GO FIGURE...

I guess coconut trees makes it look... PALAWAN?

Never been to the original one in Manila...

I will make it part of my pending must visits next time we come home

but here goes some Palawan Beach picture in Singapore...

* This reminds me more of Lynn Canyon or Capilano Suspension Bridge...

* It was a bit raining... reason behind the wet look hairstyle of brother Kenneth :)

* This is the place after crossing the suspension bridge...

* Slanting coconut trees...

And on our way to Siloso Beach...

* Free Open transportation taking you from and to each areas around Sentosa Island

* Siloso Beach Big Letter Sculptures

* * * * * 

PALAWAN BEACH/ 

SILOSO BEACH

Sentosa Island, Singapore

Public Art @ Sentosa Island

I didn't know what to call these except art and they were scattered all over the place

so we decided to take a picture with them...

* Mom and Dad and my little Kimi

* Mommy and Kimi... she's a bit tired from all the picture taking by this time...

* Look who's peeking behind the doggy

Eric and Ken with the cute doggy sculpture

* Dad and Eric

* Merlion dance

* Public Art... Public Display of Affection :)

* * * * * 

SENTOSA ISLAND

Singapore

Universal Studio, Sg... Just Outside :(

It was not a good time to go to Singapore

...in one word, RAIN.

but since this is our first time to go as a family,

not even rain will stop us from enjoying this trip..

It was not practical to go inside Universal Studio when Kimi won't be able to ride much

plus she was a bit sleepy then so we decided to go to places inside the big Island to explore instead...

We took a picture of the Universal Studio from outside of course,

people will be wondering why we went all the way to Singapore and just went to Chinatown

so, here it is :)

* The Well-known Spherical Icon of the Studio

* Kimi was on top of the world sitting in Grandpa's shoulder

* More of us trying to go in for the picture...

* Eric finally got his chance to be in the picture too...

... I wish we were able to take a family picture here.

Next time I'll teach Kimi to handle the camera... hehe!

* * * * *

UNIVERSAL STUDIO

Singapore

Around Sentosa Island...

A train ride with Sentosa Express from Vivo City mall takes you straight to the different areas in Sentosa Island...

Stations are:

Sentosa Station (Vivo City Mall)

Waterfront Station

Imbiah Lookout Station

Beach Station

* Exclusive Train that gets you around Sentosa Island for just Sgd 3.00

* Excited... hehehe!

* Photographer Eric... exhausted from the Self Timing feature of the camera

* Self Timer at Lake of Dreams

* Mom at Waterfront Station

* I'm taller now... Cherifer ang gamit ko :-P

* Next batch to have their pictures taken...

* The Thinker- Original Model

* Merlion

* Taking a picture with the Merlion in the background

* Me too...

* Nadulas! Nah.....Me three...

* Wacky... We had to wait for the people to disappear just to get a full shot

...not an easy feat... took us way too long... 

* * * * *

SENTOSA ISLAND

Singapore