Almost Missed Singapore

 

October 22, 2009 –the clock just struck midnight.  It’s Thursday –one more day to go and I’m off to Singapore… but here I am tossing and turning in my bed.  My stomach is churning and I’m curled in a ball of pain.  A soft dump (do not visualize) was already deposited a few minutes ago –how come my tummy is still twisting in painful knots.  My mom heard me moaning in pain and suggested that she take me to the hospital. 

 

We arrived at Medical City’s emergency room and after filling up a form found myself lying on a hospital bed with only a white curtain for privacy.  I don’t like hospitals.  It makes me nervous –traumatically nervous.  10 years ago, I was diagnosed with dengue that had me confined in Cardinal Santos for weeks –5 critical days in the ICU.  My platelette count was extremely low that I had to undergo blood transfusion.  In 2004, I also had regular visits to the hospital due to my mom’s health issues that time.  The year that followed saw me again frequenting the hospital –a memory that still breaks my heart.  In recent years, ER situations with my two sisters and my mom contracting Dengue contributed in my hospital trauma.

 

 

2009, I smell again that familiar cheerless sanitary odor.  An ER attendant took blood sample and strapped me up with IV for loss fluids.  Medical City attended to me efficiently and that eased me a lot.  They were very thorough, courteous and well organized.

 

Acute Gastroentiritis –I think it’s more commonly known as stomach flu.  I filed a sick leave that day.  If I didn’t feel better by 6pm, the plan was to not go.  I’m taking a bigger risk if I do.  Singapore will always be there anyway. 

 

I felt better in the afternoon.  God is good.  I was probably meant to go. 

 

I need the weekend break because I have been under a lot of stress at work the past few months.

 

Singapore Day 1

 

It was an early start that day –we checked in at 430am.  What a stunning coincidence that my roommate Kate who I’ve never met before was the one behind me at the entrance queue.  I handed Kate the chocolate carrot cake from the newly opened Chocolat I brought for her as a “room-warming gift.”  We checked in and paid for the airport tax (which is by the way inconveniently at the far side of the terminal).  After Mica picked a dress from the bag, Kate accompanied me to the Exit area so I can hand the bag off to CW. 

 

 

The whole group had breakfast c/o Nuffnang.  Both Kate and I had the Spanish sardines –I know I should be careful ordering fish with my condition but I couldn’t help myself. 

 

 

We boarded the plane and I was seated next to Ivy, who I also met for the first time.  We both dozed off during the flight.  The plane was terribly quiet, which probably meant everyone was knocked out as we were.

 

The plane landed safely in Singapore.  A private coaster took us to Link Hotel –where all the delegates are comfortably billeted. 

 

 

Jen, Jonel, Chrissy, Kate and I walked in the neighborhood and found a hawker place at the Central Plaza Mall.  Jen and I both got the chicken rice, Kate had lemon chicken and Jonel and Chrissy got a delicious duck rice from another place.  Dessert was the chocolate carrot cake that everyone shared except Chrissy and I.  By chance, Kate really likes carrot cake! 

 

 

After lunch, Chrissy strayed to run an errand while our foursome visited Little India with Kate as our guide.  Kate was based in Singapore for 1-year for work and just came back home 3 months ago.  We visited the temple but unfortunately it was closed from 12:15 PM to 4 PM.

 

 Biting Jen’s Hat

 

It was quite an interesting visit to Little India.  We went around the stores and took a refreshing break at Kaaraikudi restaurant.  The colorful food looked so scrumptious and if I weren’t so full from lunch, I would have ordered a couple dishes.  The cold milk tea was a good break from the afternoon sun. 

 

 

We headed to Mustafa Center, which is a 24-hour mall –it would be great to have a 24-hour mall in Manila.

 

Whenever I am overseas, my interests always include buying their local junk food.  Junk food like chips and knickknacks also says a lot about that country’s food culture.  There was quite an array of interesting food finds in Mustafa –Papa Dum in tube cans and of course, I couldn’t help but buy Pringles!  Pringles in soft shell crab flavor caught my attention.  I bought a few for myself and some for “pasalubong.” 

 

 

We headed back to Link Hotel and settled in.  Kate and I bonded while resting on the bed.  Around 5pm, we started to prep for the Nuffnang Blog Awards.

 

 

Right before leaving our room, the front desk called and said I had a package there.  Somebody sent a bouquet of beautiful white roses with a sweet note.

 

Nuffnang Blog Awards  

 

Every single one looked astonishing in their attires.  This perfectly suits the evening because the Nuffnang Blog Awards is the biggest blog awards in the Asia Pacific region.  Delegates from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and, of course, the Philippines were really stunning in their outfits.  Venue was at the Pan Pacific Hotel.

 

 

 

A 4-course dinner was served and every course was delightful –from the appetizer to the dessert.

 

 

Nuffnang Co-founders Ming and Tim welcomed everyone and shared with the guests Nuffnang’s journey from the time it started.  Amazing Race Asia’s host Allan Wu hosted the event.  There was a magic show act by JC Sum and Magic Babe Ning while Electrico provided the evening’s rock music.  Electrico’s lead singer said that it’d be a wish come true if he sees the whole crowd in cocktail dresses and suits mosh pit to their music.

 

 

Table 35 includes Noemi, Anton, Fran, Paul, Jen, Ivy, Alodia and Ashley.

 

Several Philippine bloggers were finalists in different blog categories including Jehzlau, Chrissy, Bryanboy and Ironwulf.  Ironwulf’s En Route bagged the Best Travel Blog in Asia Pacific (congrats Ferdz!!!).

 

 

Photo source: Ada Lajara

 

Best Blog Shop: Bonito Chico

Best Food Blog: I Eat, I Shoot, I Post

Best Fashion Blog: Lady Melbourne

Best Parenting Blog: Childhood 101

Best Travel Blog: En Route

Best Celebrity Blog: A Jolly Affair

Best Entertainment Blog: Kenny Sia

Best Geek Blog: Mr. Gadget

Best Hidden Gem: The Doodle Blog

Best Original Blog Design: Xia Xue

Most Influential Blog: Xia Xue

Region’s Best Blog: Xia Xue

 

On the Table

 

Marinated Smoked Tuna with Feta, Herb Salad, and Balsamic Olive Oil

 

 

 

Light Cream of Asparagus and Green Peas, topped with Chive Mousseline

 

 

Rosemary Marinated Chicken Breast with Saffron Cheesy Mash Potato and Balsamic Reduction Mediterranean Vegetable in Mango Coriander Salsa Sauce

 

 

 

Praline Hazelnut Gateau with Raspberry Jelly

 

 

The Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards was a huge success.  It was great to be part of Nuffnang’s blogging community.

 

 

Noemi’s Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards Video Coverage

 

Stay tuned for Singapore Day 2…

 

Ivy Baldoza Multiply Album

Singapore Day 1 Album

Singapore Day 2 Afternoon Album

Singapore Day 2 Album

Singapore Day 2 Night Album

Singapore Day 3 IKEA Album

 

Related Post

OAP Anton’s

Ironwulf’s

Topaz Horizon

Mad Manila’s

Momblogger’s

Franny’s

Adaphobic’s

Uniquely Singapore Experience

Krrunch Pringles

Spread the Love

 

 

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Tags: affordable hotels, Anton, best blog, best Travel blog, blogging community, cheap, Chrissy, dinner, En Route, Filipino, Frances, Fredz Decena, Hotel, in the Philippines, ironwulf, Ivy, Jen Juan, kate, Link Hotel, Little India, Lunch, Mad Manila, meowbykate, Mombloggers, money exchange, Mustafa, Noemi, Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards, OAP, OK Magazine, Our Awesome Planet, Pan Pacific Hotel, Pasalubong, region, Singapore, Singapore tales, Topaz Horizon, where to stay

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 5:07 pm and is filed under The Scene, Walk the World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.