Today, we decided to check out the new shopping mall down the street at Bugis. Like any typical modern shopping mall that can be found in any part of the world, there is nothing special about it. We walked down to the esplanade, heard there is some performance ongoing down there.
When we arrived at 6pm to the Esplanade indoor concourse, a Japanese flute performance (Shakuhachi) was just about to begin. We hang around for 15mins watching the performance.
Thereafter we did a bit of shopping at Marina Square before coming back in time to the outdoor performance at the Esplanade by the Singapore Buddhist College with the monks from Guang Ming Shan.
At night, there is a Kagura performance.
10th May (Sunday)
On this day, the BDS buddies visited a few places around Singapore. Basically it is from Bedok to Expo, to Bugis and finally to Clarke Quay. There is this Japanese-Italian restaurant that was opened in Singapore since last year November - Saizeriya. During my stay in Japan, we used to visit Saizeriya almost on a weekly basis; just chilling out with the rest and enjoying the drink bar. When I returned to Singapore, I tried to arrange for a visit to this restaurant 2 months back but was unsuccessfully due to the large number of customers. This time round, we arrived slightly earlier and managed to secure a seat easily.
Here is how the interior of Saizeriya Singapore looks like. The interior design and colours looks similar to that of Japan. The Italian style painting which decorate the walls are also somewhat similar. Even the waitress and waiters are dressed in the same garb. Notice the Drink Station at the foreground below.
First thing first, look through the menu. 70% of the dishes look similar to the ones back in Japan. Some of those that is available in Singapore is not found back in Japan. Even the prices of the items are also direct translation from the Japanese Yen.
We ordered a large number of dishes. I went for the Seafood Spaghetti which has a greater selection of seafood selection as compared to Japan's. The dishes arrived fast as can be seen in the photo below. The spicy chicken wings are so-so, and not as great as the ones I can order in Japan. When the hot plates arrive, they are not sizzling hot. Even though I have an aversion for garlics, and I never ordered dishes with garlics on it; when my friends' garlic hot plates arrive, there are basically no pungent smell to it. The sausages are also average. The unique drink in the drink bar is ice milo. Something similar to Japan is the Calpis drink. In terms of food rating as compared to Japan's Saizeriya, I give it a 3 out of 5.
After our dinner at Saizeriya, we went shopping around the area. We stumble upon a $59 water-melon. This water-melon must be extra juicy.
There is more to come. Notice the $89 melon. I believe it should be extra-sweet.
That's not all, let's try the $169 grapes. Assuming each grape cost $3, popping a grape in your mouth is equivalent to having a standard meal at a hawker fare in Singapore. These grapes should be rare and precious and maybe bloom once every few years and takes a great adventurer to harvest them and deliver them from an oriental mythical island to the equatorial island of Singapore.
15th May (Friday)
When we arrived at the centre in the evening, we saw this beautiful setup for Vesak. It is one of the most beautiful bathing of the baby Siddhartha setup I have seen.
16th May (Saturday)
The second highlight of the fortnight duration when I am back in Singapore is attending DK's birthday chalet. I arrived at 12noon and rendezvous with the rest for lunch. While walking around Vivo City, I took a view of Sentosa island from opposite.
DK's chalet is at Costa Sands Resort. He has booked a hut which can accommodates 4 people. The dinner was also splendid; buffet catering.
