Voyage Night Festival 2011

National Museum of Singapore in the night

Into its fourth year, the Night Festival 2011 celebrates the cultural and ethnographic richness of the Bras Basah Precinct.

Gina and I met on 26 August 2011, to participate in the Voyage Night Festival 2011. It was a delightful experience.

A Dozen of Those by Lim Shing Ee

At the entrance of National Museum, we saw 12 large bright red helium balloons, each being held by a faceless brown figure sitting on an equally mundane and ordinary looking brown boulder. A Dozen of those describes the sense of displacement and dislocation that all those who uproot themselves from their familar environments must feel.

Pat in the museum

Getting ready for the night performance

The performance was due to commence at 10.30pm. Both of us were there at 10pm. At 10.15pm it started to drizzle, people started taking out their umbrellas. I recalled 2 years ago, they delayed the performance when it rained. Hence keeping fingers crossed, such an incident wouldn't occur. Luckily, at 10.30pm, the rain stopped, the lights were on the show commenced. It was a spectacular show, one not to be missed.


Corazon de Angeles in Paradise (Heart of Angels) marks the high point of the Night Festival. Symbolising universal cultural unity Corazon de Angeles in Paradise celebrates the matrimony of a Groom and Bride from 2 different cultures.

Check out the following pictures :

The performance invokes the history and social development of Singapore's Civic District

Life Size "dolls" passing by us

Lady in White

Admist the song and dance, fireworks appeared

Such a magical feeling

A brilliant performance

Star dust from the sky - those in front were blessed by the star dust. Gina and I were decked with star dust from head to toe :) Look as though we just came from a party.

In a cinematic journey which combines music, dance, film, acrobatics, live performance and pyrotechnics, we the audience were taken through a world of voyages and encounters, fascinating and magical, like summer night dreams.

Osteria Mozza

One of the most recognized and respected chefs in America today, Mario Batali brings the much-anticipated Osteria Mozza to Marina Bay Sands.


It was my first time dining at Marina Bay Sands. We were there to watch Swan Lake on Ice 0n 3 September 2011. With only less than an hour for dinner, we headed for Osteria Mozza. The food was done with style, high end dining indeed.

All set for Italian food

Decked in black - looking forward to the performance on ice

The start of the hols for Peichin

Grilled Octopus with potatoes, celery & lemon ($25)

Something unique - Tender and salty was the grilled octopus yet it is a perfect combination with the celery and potatoes. The lemon gives a refreshing taste to this dish.

Peichin & Pat having dinner
Spaghetti Gricia ($25)
Ravioli ($24)

I had the Ravioli di Brasato with tomato, basil & ricotta al forno. Simply delicious. I wished the servings is bigger.
Peichin enjoying her Spaghetti Gricia
Pat and her Italian food - still thinking of Italy
The babe in blue

We enjoyed the swan lake performance on ice. In fact I recalled watching the ballet version with Peichin a few years ago. This time watching the performance on ice made me appreciate the music at a deeper level. I love the ballets by Tchaikovsky. For me this was the first time watching an ice-skating performance. It was amazing and beautiful. The music, the settings and the performance was magicial.

Pat at Marina Bay Sands - Awed by the performance

Pat & Peichin

I am thankful for good friends for sharing my interests in music, arts and food.

Thanks Peichin, it was a lovely evening with my good pal:)

Goodwood Park - Porridge Buffet at Coffee Lounge

Pat, Rose and her kids

I met Rose and Lloyd 5 years ago on our trip to Russia. They are a delightful couple to know. Lloyd is an expert in history, hence when one needed clarification on the history of Russia, we will find him. It was nice to meet up them on 13 August 2011, a Saturday evening. Also fun seeing their adorable 2 kids - Luc and Rowan.



Rose tried to make dinner reservations. We were suprised most of the restaurants in town were fully booked. Thankfully there were places at Coffee Lunge at Goodwood Park Hotel. We had the Porridge buffet which is available from 12pm-2.30pm (lunch) and 6pm-10.30pm (dinner).



The Coffee Lounge has been serving Taiwan porridge since it opened in 1984. It offers, for both lunch and dinner, porridge a la carte buffet ($38) with unlimited servings of over 20 items including appetisers and hot dishes.


These are some of the dishes that we had :

Cripsy Chicken



Chye Poh Omelette - nicely done

Mui Choy

Pork Cutlet

When it comes to comfort food, a bowl of porridge accompanied by the simpliest dishes like fish, beans, and omelette can be the most simple and satisfying dish. The buffet spread was a great way to sample the different dishes and to catch up with friends.

The kids could also run around and be with themselves under the adults' supervision.

Handsome Baby Luc Kyle Yeo

Steamed Sea Bass with Crispy Bean Paste - Love this dish

Limited to only 1 dish per table. Else we would have ordered a second helping.

Beancurd in Japanese soya sauce & pork floss

My other favourite dish from the buffet spread. The beancurd is smooth and the pork floss heightens the taste of the dish.

Chicken with Beancurd

Fresh Prawns

Second order of the beancurd dish - delicious

Beef with Black Pepper

Stir fried vegetables

Check out the decadent spread of desserts - apple crumble, cakes and an array of pastries

Movenpick Ice-cream

Fruits

Mango Sago

Lloyd with the kids

Rowan Francesca Yeo

Rose with Luc

With the kids

Pretty Rowan posing for the photographer

Feeling happy after a good dinner

An enjoyable Saturday evening. It was good to see Lloyd, Rose and the kids. Stay in touch.

Ta Lu Prawn Noodle

Pat having lunch at coffeeshop with Gina
Ta Lu Prawn Noodle

On 28th August 2011, Gina and I happened to chance upon Ta Lu Prawn Noodle, an eatery located at #01-54/55 at China Square. Gina mentioned this place was noted for its prawn noodle. Hence we decided to lunch there.


Lime Juice ($1.50) and Prawn noodles ($4)



The lime juice was refreshing, bit too sour for me though.

Gina ordered the small portion of prawn noodles. Generous serving of prawns. However the portion of noddles seem little. The soup was tasty.
Lunch dishes for the day

Century Egg Porridge ($3.50)

I ordered the Century Egg Porridge. It was disappointing. The century egg was hard and the porridge was diluted. As I was ordering this dish, the lady asked whether I wanted to add egg to the porridge. Didn't do so as I personally felt it would distort the taste.

Crystal Jade still has the best century egg porridge.

Rojak ($4)

The Rojak, the side dish, tasted much better compared to our main courses. Rojak is a local salad of mixed vegetables and fruits, drizzled with a sweet, sour sauce made up of local prawn paste, sugar and lime.