Batam, Indonesia Getaway

Last Chinese New Year, we had a quick getaway at Harris Resort Waterfront, Batam. This is a perfect place to go if you need to escape the busy city of Singapore. We were able to rest and enjoy the serenity of the place and the sea breeze as well (I missed the Philippine beaches though!).

I'll just flood this post with pictures and let them tell the story for me :)

Harbourpoint, Singapore

The hotel has a huge swimming pool (one for adults and one for the kiddos)

Their buffet restaurant features Indonesian dancers :) Two Western girls stand in awe :)

Near the lobby of the hotel is a path going to swimming pool

The beach near the hotel; perfect view early in the morning

The Waterfront City Port

The Harbourpoint, Singapore

How to go to Batam from Singapore:
The ferry station is near Vivo City, Harbourfront (NE and Circle line). The last trip is up to 5pm. You may check this link for details and online booking: http://www.batamfast.com/home/index.ashx.

Lesson in Biking

We started biking a few weeks ago. Though it is a bit hard to cycle around the city center, we have found the perfect route going to work. We also discovered some areas that are perfect for cycling exercise such Punggol Waterpark and Bishan Park. We were ecstatic and energetic during the first few weeks. We put it on our daily schedule and we didn't mind the physical tiredness. We were on high!

However, last week, our daily plan didn't work out. We were so tired to wake up early in the morning and too lazy to bike around at night. We had excuses and so for the whole week, we lazed around and ignored our bikes.

After our quick Chinese New Year getaway, we decided to start biking again last Saturday. After a few minutes though, my husband started panting and he couldn't breathe. He turned pale and he said he couldn't go on anymore. We needed to go back and rest. I was disappointed but my husband's welfare is more important. We promised to go back to our regular schedule this week.

Monday morning, we went off at 6am. I was slow and my pedals were too heavy. I know I was back to zero and my body has forgotten what it's like to bike. I was struggling the whole time. However, I tried and succeeded.

While biking, I was able to think about something- something that has to do with my inner life.

When I first became a Christian, a follower of Christ, I was energetic and excited in spending time with Him. Everyday was a new and fresh day to learn from the Bible. I was on high! I know this is also true for a lot of followers of Christ. Our new relationship with Him has brought us into a deeper level of spiritual experience.

However, as we go along, we experience trials and busyness crept in our daily schedule. The word became dull and prayer seemed to be a challenge. We opted for things of lesser value and we became cold. Spiritual activities become dragging. We all experienced this.

Like biking again, we need to consciously go back and allow ourselves to experience God again in spite of the difficulty in starting over again. The journey is difficult and sometimes, it is easier to just go with the flow. We need exercise but more so, we need God in our lives. The devil may tempt us to just lazed around- watch TV, browse Facebook and Instagram and just go on without spending quality time with the Lord. Do not be deceived. We need to go on and rise above ourselves and our mediocrity.

Without exercise (biking, on my case), I will continue to gain weight and forget the advantage of physical activities. I will go on accepting who I am without doing something. Without time with God, we will remain as we are- shallow and unwilling to go deeper in our obedience and service for God.

Ephesians 3:13b-14
"...forgetting the past and looking to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

Singapore Discoveries for January

I promised myself that I will be writing some city discoveries in our new home. Here are my discoveries for the first month of this year! Try them when you come and visit Singapore.

1) Stroll in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens, a 74-hectare garden of different trees and flowers, offers different attractions but the most famous one is the National Orchid Garden. The orchid garden features features 20,000 different varieties of orchids.

(c) Life as Eu Know It

Activities to do:

Family picnic, jogging, strolling and photography sessions.

Entrance Fee: 

FREE to enter Singapore Botanical Garden

National Orchid Garden: $5/person

How to go there: 

MRT Circle Line (Singapore Botanic Gardens) 

Bus #: 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 123, 174 (via Holland Road)

Bus #: 48, 66, 67, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170, 171, 186 (via Bukit Timah Road)

2) Jog at the McRitchie Nature Reserve
McRitchie is a favorite spot for joggers and marathoners. The 4.8-kl trail to the Tree Top is also famous for tourists and locals alike. The Tree Top is a narrow hanging bridge where you can watch the forest canopy.

Activities to do:

Hiking, Bird Watching, Exercise and Workouts, Water Sports

No Entrance Fee

How to go there: 

Nearest MRT Station is Caldecott (Circle Line)

Nearest Bus Stop: 51071 (Bus#: 52, 74, 93, 157, 130, 132, 156, 162, 162M, 165, 167, 852, 855, 980)

To know more about McRitchie Park and Reservoir, click this link. 

3) Ride the cable car to Mt. Faber and visit the the Henderson Waves:
The cable car service is available at Vivo City, Sentosa and Mt. Faber. You can start the round trip from any point but make sure to go down at Mt. Faber and explore the place.

Cable Car Fee: $29 for adults, $18 for children 4-12

View at the Cable Car

If you're up for the challenge, you can also continue to stroll at the Mt. Faber area and look for Henderson Waves- the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore (36 meters above ground). If you want to skip the cable car, you might want to start at the Marang Trail near Harbourpoint MRT (NE, CC Line).

At the Henderson Waves

Imagine how high the Bridge is

(c) Life as Eu Know It

Mae Sai and the Thai-Myanmar Border

Summer last year, I was given a chance to visit the Northern part of Thailand with six beautiful ladies. Our first stop was northernmost city of Thailand, Mae Sai. Mae Sai is the home of the "Sleeping Lady Mountain" and a number of interesting places to visit:

1. Doi Tung Garden: Less than an hour away from Mae Sai lies this beautiful garden with different variety of flowers.  This garden is literally at the top of the mountain, overlooking the terrain of Burma/Myanmar. It is a good place to unwind, take pictures and be at one with nature :)

There's a cafe at the heart of the garden

Doi Tung Garden

How to go there: We went there using a private vehicle but I found this direction from Lonely Planet.
Garden Entrance Fee: 80 Baht

2. The Golden Triangle: - a place in the world where three countries are visible and only one river determines their territories. The boat rent is a little bit expensive so it is wise to be with a team.

I went here with a team and we paid 1000 Baht for each person. Usually, the fee is higher.

The Boat Ride / Golden Triangle

Laos Day Market at the Golden Triangle

From the mini-port, you can see a huge Buddha statue, different casino places on the other side. You can view the mountains of Myanmar on the left side, the town of Thailand and the destination is the flea market of Laos where you can buy souvenirs.

How to go there from Mae Sai: Blue Songtheaws in Mae Sai town (45 minutes, 50 Baht fee) 
Source: Wikitravel

3. Thai-Myanmar Border: This is located near the central market of Mae Sai. Thailand and Myanmar are just a small creek away. Even though there's no visa for Southeast Asian people like us, we were asked to pay 1000 Baht to be able to cross. The place in Myanmar is called Tachilek- known for its cheap markets. We wandered through the town, ate Burmese food (tried to!) and bought some authentic Myanmar goods in the market. We visited some sites like the famous Tachilek pagoda. We had a glimpse of Myanmar for a day.

The Bridge that Divides Thailand and Myanmar

My feet in Tachilek! :)

A famous pagoda in Tachilek, Myanmar

4) Mae Sai Temple: This is a Buddhist temple overlooking Mae Sai City and Tachilek, Myanmar. If you are not a Buddhist, it is still interesting to go and see a glimpse of what Buddhism is like.

Statues outside the main temple

One of their altars

Path to the temple (tiring! forgot how many steps the stairs has)

Unfortunately, my list is limited but Mae Sai and neighboring towns have a lot to offer! A compilation is posted by Virtual Tourist (click here).

Vientiane, Laos: A Not-So-Ordinary City in Southeast Asia

Ever been to a laidback city before? Well, that’s the picture of Vientiane, the capital of Laos- a Southeast Asian country landlocked by Thailand in the West, Vietnam in the east, China and Myanmar in the North and Cambodia in the South.

In the past years, Laos has become a common destination for backpackers in South East Asia. The real thrill however lies in its different provinces but Vientiane has its own beautiful places to offer to travelers. I hope my list will encourage you to visit one day.

It is easy to go around Vientiane, especially if you stay near the Mekong. Just use your GPS or ask for a city map at your hotel and you're ready to go :)

Patuxai

Patuxai or the Victory Monument is a similar structure of Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The ceiling has a story to tell too. You can climb Patuxai for less than a dollar  (5000 kip). From the top,you can have a glimpse of the city.

On the second floor, you can find stores selling Lao souvenirs. 

The Patuxai 

National Museum

For 10000 kip,  you can have a tour of their museum. It is one of the places that a tourist must visit in order to understand the country’s history and its people groups.

Pha That Luang

This stupa is the national symbol of Laos- emphasizing their adherence to the Buddhist beliefs. The Buddhists said that  monks buried a holy relic of Buddha here.  It must be interesting to visit during the That Luang Festival every November. 

Entrance Fee: 5000 kip

The Pha That Luang

Near Pha That Luang is a Buddhist temple where you can see the many different faces of their gods and a big statue of the leaning Buddha.

Haw Phra Kaew

The Haw Phra Kaew

It houses different kinds of Buddhas- from the smallest to the biggest. Many Buddhists visit to pray and pay respect to the large Buddha statue. Taking picture inside the museum is prohibited.

Entrance Fee: 3000 kip 

Wat Si Saket

This is a Buddhist wat featuring a large statue of Buddha inside. Buddhist monks spend time here to pray. Silence and modesty is  observed.

Entrance Fee: 3000 kip 

The Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is near the Mekong River. It has a modern architecture design and beautiful in the pictures (with a sunset on the background!)

The Presidential Palace

Buddha Park

This park is a little bit far from the city. You need to hire a tuktuk  to go there ( if you are on an arranged tour, definitely you will visit this place). It is an old park housing a huge leaning Buddha, the different kinds of gods in Buddhism and Hinduism and a man-made cave. Entrance Fee: 3000kip

Night Market near Mekong River

From 5pm to 10pm, the flea market is up near the Mekong River. The place is crowded with tourists and locals trying to buy cheap goods in the night market. Local products are also sold here so it is a must to go! A lot of street foods are available and it is a great place to try Lao food without hurting your wallet. The night market closes at 10pm though. 

COPE 

A center that introduces the history of cluster bombing in Laos and an open invitation on how foreigners can help :) They have a mini-museum, a store (proceeds go to the victims of cluster bombing) and an ice cream shop! (Free Entrance)

Inside the mini-museum of COPE

Mekong River J

Go biking in the street near Mekong, you’ll find Buddhist temples in every corner! The rent for bikes is just 10000 kip a day. 

Where to stay? 

Many backpacker hotels are situated near the Mekong River. It is a great place to get your hotel because everything is available there (grocery store, restaurants, street foods). I recommend Vientiane Star Hotel if you’re looking for a cheap but clean place to stay. The staffs are friendly and accommodating. 

Laos is a beautiful country and I can't wait to explore its gems in the future! For now, let's savor the memories of its laidback capital city :) Til next post! 

Singapore Life: How We Started (#PinoyTake)

I wake up sometimes unable to believe that I now live in a different country. I have always dreamt of living in places like Afghanistan, South America, Pakistan, Laos, Myanmar but never in Singapore. Never in a comfortable and peaceful country like this.

Mt. Faber Peak- fr here you can have an overview of the city

I guess you will really never know what life will offer until it's there.

So I've been here for more than one month. I've had my few bloopers but not much. Anyhow, Singapore is close to the Philippines and almost everywhere, you can see Filipinos. Aside from the lack of traffic jam, efficient transportation and very few cigarette smokers, I can still feel the Philippines in many ways.

We went here with a few help and reminder from some people. So I guess this post is dedicated to some Filipinos and other Asians who are thinking of living here. I will also share some websites that helped us get started. I am not an expert so please feel free to add something on the comments :)

1) Visa:

Your employer must get you a working visa before you can start working here, naturally. Either you will get an S-pass or an E-pass depending on your qualifications and the job you are applying for. Check ministry of manpower website here for details.

2) Housing:

Some are blessed to be offered housing from the company but most of the time you are on your own. This is a major thing to consider for a job offer. Housing is very expensive in Singapore. So if you find an $800-$1200 for a fully furnished condo, don’t buy it. It only means it is a hoax. We were almost cheated in craigslist for that.

The house fees range from $500-$1000 for a room rental, $1000-$1200 for a master room (depending on the location) and $1400-$1600 for a studio type room. Northwestern areas like Yishun and Sembawang sometimes offer $1400-$1500 for a one-room apartment which is also good enough.

We found a good deal via propertyguru.sg for a studio type apartment. Our agent Beng Beng Tan of Houston Properties was able to assist us with our needs. For just a day, we were able to close the deal. (By the way, agent is a must in Singapore! Make sure to ask for their company and registration ID so you’ll know you are in good hands).

Sharing is common in this country but we were blessed to have a private space. Small but fully furnished, quiet and private.

Websites for Housing: Be careful and make sure the ads are legitimate!
Property Guru: http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/
Pinoy Site: pinoysg.com
Gumtree: http://singapore.gumtree.sg/
99: https://www.99.co

3) Transportation

You need an EZLink or NETS card (SGD12 each) to go around SG. You can use the top-up card in the trains and bus. We use an app called MOOVIT to help us find the best route and bus number. If you live near an MRT station, it is easier to go around. All the MRT Line (red, purple, green, yellow, blue) are linked to each other. It's easy to understand and it's unlikely that you'll be lost.

from google

5) Shops to Note for

If you live in the Eastern and Northeastern area, then I have good news for you. There is a place in Tampines (Bus Station BEF TPE) that has these three stores that I love! (Click the name of the store for the link).

IKEA (they also have a smaller branch in Alexandria- Western part)

The furniture here are perfect for small places like ours. The price isn't so bad too. 

COURTS

Electronics and appliances hub

GIANTS

I love giants because they always have cheaper prices for groceries.

If you’re far from this area, most likely there is a nearby HBD Market or in the MRT Station, there’s always a mall with Cold Storage and FairPrice. 

MUSTAFA (near Farrer Park Station-NE Line)

Mustafa is the craziest place in Singapore. The stuff there are really cheap (sometimes, even cheaper than the Philippine prices!) From shampoo, perfumes, electronic appliances, decorations, clothes, even food from different countries —name it, it’s there!

FUNNAN (near City Hall Station-EW and NS Lines)

This is an electronic hub and a favourite of many computer savvy people.

EXPO (near Changi Airport, Expo Station- EW Line)

Sale of different electronics—from cellphones, to televisions, computers. People go here and they go crazy from all the sales available.

ANCHORPOINT (near Queenstown Station-EW Line; then take #33 or #64 bus)

Anchorpoint is a hidden gem for people who like to shop.  The Cotton On, G2000, Pedro, Charles and Keith, Typo, Giordano outlets are inside this gem-nasium!!! I was able to buy a pants in Cotton On (which costs P1999 in the Philippines) for only $20 (P700) and a shirt for $5 (less than P200)!!! I love this mall (but it’s a little bit far from my place so it is an effort to visit).
(Just in front of it is the IKEA Alexandria Branch so it is a treat to go)

As I said, I am no expert on this but I hope this will be a helpful post for some. Please feel free to add or correct this post. Thank you!

Some helpful websites:

www.singaporeexpat.com

http://www.expatliving.sg/

Answered Prayers of 2014

Last year, I made this list of prayers for 2013. (See complete post here)
Not all of them were answered the way I want them to but the way He wanted.
Thankful to the Lord for all the blessings :)

1) That I will bloom where I am planted (teaching and being a wife)
God has given me many opportunities to grow as an educator this year. I thank Him for the time at Messiah College. It was fun and challenging to teach the younger generation- the future leaders of the Philippines.

I think I have grown as a wife as well. I can cook several dishes now and the Lord has taught me how to change ME-thinking to US-thinking.

2) Online Course in UP
This has been my plan for quite some time but I was never able to pursue it. However, I was able to enroll in a short-course about business this year. It geared me to start thinking differently about entrepreneurship.

3) Cross-Cultural Trip
I was able to join a 3-week trip in Northern Thailand and Laos. It was mind-opening for me. My husband wasn't with me but I know that the Lord has given us fresh insights when I was away.

Ladies' Team at the Golden Triangle

4) An organized and "busy" kitchen
Before moving to Singapore, I think I was able to fulfill this. And even now, with a new kitchen, I think this has been answered :) More delicious meals to cook this coming 2015!

Our small but "busy" kitchen in Singapore

5) Opportunities to Grow
My short stories were published by Go and Tell Publishing for their Values Education Book.
I was able to teach at the MW of Messiah College and JIL Compass.
I was able to take part (even for just a short time) at the work in Cainta.
I was able to start doing calligraphy again and water color lettering.

One of my calligraphy works (c) Lifeaseuknowit

Book Launch at Go and Tell Publishing

Thank you, Lord for all your blessings! Thank you for being with me and my family this year as we go through trials and challenges. #blessed