Where to Eat in Singapore: Maxwell Food Center

One of the most popular hawkers center in Singapore is the Maxwell Food Center. 

We went here to eat the famous chicken rice.  To taste the most famous Hainnanese Chicken in Singapore - at Tian Tian. But for some reason, it was closed.

Pero sabi nga ni Drew sa Biyahe ni Drew Singapore episode, "kung saan mahaba ang pila, dun masarap kumain". Kaya heto, dito kami bumili.

Ang laki ng mga manok...

Workers were so busy.

Price:

We ordered half chicken ($11), large vegetable with oyster sauce ($5) and rice for the 5 of us.

The chicken was so yummy, soft and tender. Yung rice, lasang luya. Parang rice sa Paotsin pero mas masarap.

Sugarcane juice and soya were also famous in hawkers center.

When travelling, eat what the locals eat, eat where the locals eat. When in Singapore, eat at Maxwell Food Center.

How to get there:

Maxwell Road Food Centre is in Chinatown. Ride the Singapore MRT and disembark at Chinatown MRT Station (NE4) - take Exit A to Pagoda Street, walk down the lane until you hit South Bridge Road. Cross the street and walk south down South Bridge Road until you reach Maxwell Food Centre.

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Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

If you love plants and flowers, this new attraction in Singapore is for you. 

Gardens by the Bay is located at Central Singapore. If you are coming from Merlion Park, it is located at the back of Marina Bay Sands. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. We entered at the Bay South Garden.

The most iconic attraction here are the Supertrees.

Standing between 25 metres (82 ft) and 50 metres (160 ft), these Supertrees are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens. 

See the skyway bridge? You can climb it for $5 (Adult) and ($3 (Child) to take a closer look.

There is also a restaurant atop the 50-metre (160 ft) Supertree. You have to pay $18 to get in. At night, the Supertrees come alive with a light and music show called the OCBC Garden Rhapsody.

Other attractions inside the Gardens are:

    Flower Dome
    Cloud Forest
    Supertree Grove
    Heritage Gardens
    Dragonfly & Kingfisher Lakes
    Bay East Garden
    World of Plants

We didn't have much time exploring the Gardens because we were so tired.

The nearest MRT station going to Gardens by the Bay is Bayfront. Gardens by the Bay station is still under construction.

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Stressful Incidents before our Trip to Singapore

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After almost a month, I'm back at Singapore with my husband Roel, JoAnn my bff and her son AJ. But before this trip, napakaraming stress ang pinagdaanan namin. I wrote about this para na rin sa information ng mga taong may pagkakatulad sa sitwasyon namin. 

Our flight was originally scheduled August 10-13, 2013.

STRESS #1. Two months before our flight, bigla ko lang naalala na ang kasama pala naming bata, si AJ ay US Passport holder. Tinanong ko si Jo Ann kung parehas lang ba ang procedure at requirements when traveling abroad ang Filipino Citizen sa American? Napaisip kami. Then tumawag ako sa Bureau of Immigration Office dito sa Clark.

Heto ang conversation namin ng Immigration officer:

IO: Immigration Good Morning!
ME: Hello, magtatanong lang po ako. We will be traveling to SG pero may kasama po kaming bata na US Passport Holder. May additional requirements po ba para sa ganitong case pag mag tour sa ibang bansa?
IO: Saan po ipinanganak ang bata?
ME: Dito po sa Pilipinas
IO: May Philippine Passport po ba siya?
ME: Wala po
IO: First time po ba niyang lalabas ng bansa?
ME: Opo
IO: Paano po nakuha ng bata ang US Citizenship niya?
ME: Yung tatay po niya ay US Citizen at inapply po niya ang bata ng CRBA sa US Embassy sa Manila
IO: Ah, kailangan ninyo ng Exit Clearance or ECC
ME: Paano po makukuha yun? Kailan po pweding makuha?
IO: Punta lang po kayo dito sa Immigration Office mam, isama ninyo ang bata for picture-taking at finger-printing. Magdala po kayo ng Letter of Intent to Travel, copy ng flight itinerary ninyo, 3 pcs 2x2 picture ng bata, NSO birth certificate ng bata, marriage certificate ng parents at iba pang supporting documents. Pwedi pong kumuha at least 1 week before the travel dahil 30 days lang po ang validity nun. Makukuha niyo rin po after 2 hours.
ME: Magkano po ang bayad?
IO: Mam, hindi po namin ma-aasses ang dapat bayaran hanggang hindi po namin nakikita yung mga documents. Punta na lang po kayo dito.

Ayun, mukhang madali lang naman diba. Kaya nag search kami sa internet kung magkano ang binayaran ng ibang kagaya namin. May Php 3000 - 5000 daw. So, Jo Ann prepared Php 5000 for the ECC.

STRESS #2. One month before our flight, I received an email from AirAsia:

Dearest Valued Guest,

Philippines’ AirAsia has always taken great care when implementing any flight changes that may inconvenience you, our valued guest. Unfortunately, we have to suspend services between Singapore and Clark effective 1st August 2013 due to commercial considerations.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this flight suspension may cause you and we would like to offer you the following options:

   1. One-time transfer, at no extra cost, to an AirAsia flight on the same route on or before July 31st, 2013 (subject to availability)

  2.  One-time re-routing to any Philippines’ AirAsia flight within 30 days of the original flight date, subject to airport-specific taxes and surcharges (subject to availability)

  3.   Conversion of the value of the total fare to an online credit shell with a validity of 180 days

  4.   Full refund

OMG! Aigoo! What to do? We already have confirmed hotel booking for August 10-13 and it can't be refunded or modify. Nagmadali akong naghanap ng ibang flight sa ibang airline at mag re-refund na lang kami. Yung Cebu Pacific sa Manila ang lipad, Php 8000 ang amount. Sa Tiger naman walang flight sa Clark, Manila din at Php 7500 and amount. Meron pa akong nakita, Jetstar, Manila din Php 6500. Yung ticket namin sa AirAsia Php 3250 lang. Hay!

Tumawag ako sa central booking department ng Fragrance Hotel sa Singapore at nakiusap kung pwedeng i amend ang aming reservation. Kahit saang branch ng Fragrance okay lang. (We prefer Emerald kasi but it's fully booked kaya sa Sapphire kami confirm) I explained the situation and out of goodwill, he modified it to July 27-30 but we have to pay an extra $150 for rate difference.

STRESS #3.  I called AirAsia to move our flight to July 27-30. OMG again.... fully booked na ang July 30! Paano kami uuwi? Then the agent gave me another option, July 23-27.

Crossing our fingers, I called Mr. Edmund again of Fragrance Hotel, and with a lot of luck and prayers, pinagbigyan niya ang request ko. May available na rooms sa Emerald branch pero July 23-26 lang. I said it's ok at nagpabook na lang ako sa Sunflower branch para sa last day namin.

STRESS #4.  Five days before our flight, nagpunta ng BI si Jo Ann at AJ. Akala namin ok na ang lahat. Tumawag si Jo Ann informing me na kailangan magbayad ng penalty ni AJ dahil overstaying siya. BI computed the charges from the date his US Passport and CRBA was released. Php 12,000! Hay hindi namin alam na may binabayaran pala ang mga US Citizen dito sa Pilipinas. Wala namang nag inform sa amin. Wala din kaming alam na ganito pala. Wala naman ibang dapat sisihin. Bigla ko tuloy naalala ang prof. namin sa CEU na laging sinasabi "Ignorance of the law excuses no one!" Sabi sa BI, if may Philippine Passport lang ang bata, hindi na niya kailangan magbayad. Kinabukasan, bumalik si Jo sa BI upang magbayad at nakuha na niya ang kapirasong papel na nagkakahalaga ng Php 12,000++.

STRESS #5. On the day of our flight, ninenerbyos pa rin kami dahil baka hindi kami makaalis. Nakalagay kasI dun sa ECC ni AJ na subject for dero pa siya sa mga IO sa airport. At marami kaming nabasa at nabalitaan na marami daw passengers sa Clark na hindi pinapasakay kahit lehitimong turista naman. Offloaded kumbaga. When it was our turn na, medyo bata pa yung IO na na-assign sa pila namin. Medyo nagtagal din kami ng ilang minuto bago kami nakalusot. Yung babaeng nauna sa amin ay offloaded.

Sa tindi ng pinagdaanan naming stress para sa SG trip na ito, parang ayoko ng tumuloy, kaso nandito na e, marami ng nagastos.

Sa awa ng Diyos, nakarating na din kami ng Singapore.

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Departure from Singapore

DAY 6

It's time to go home.

Airasia flights from Singapore to Clark was 10am. That's why we left the hotel as early as 7am. Because of our heavy luggage, we just hired 2 vans to take us to the airport. Each van can accommodate 10 persons and cost $50. Just ask your hotel about this for hassle-free airport transfer.

We took our breakfast after checking in. 

In Singapore, you can enjoy 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) Refund for your purchases of $100 above at participating stores. 

1. At the shop, simply ask for GST and they will process the form and attached it it your receipt. If you will not ask, it won't automatically given. Good thing I already knew about this. 

2. At the airport, if you plan to check-in your purchases, apply your GST refund at the eTRS kiosk located at the Departure Hall (before the departure immigration). Just follow the instructions and you're done. 

3. If you plan to hand-carry your items, after check-in, proceed to the Departure Transit Lounge at the airport. There are also eTRS kiosk there but proceed at the counter immediately and present your receipts/invoices with the attached eTRS ticket. Remember, no eTRS no Refund. The guy before me was asked to present his purchases, maybe because he purchased electronics. The officer didn't require me though. 

4. Collect your refund. Just present your credit card and it will automatically credited within 10 days. In my case, I forgot my credit card in my other bag and my refund were in cash. I went to the next counter, the Central Refund Counter and collected my cash.

Changi Airport has many shops and restaurants. As we passed by the perfume station, we found out that it's much cheaper here than in malls. 

We boarded on-time but we didn't immediately fly because of the haze. After almost 45 minutes delayed, we were finally cleared to go. We experienced many turbulence as we enter the PAR.

Upon landing at DMIA, it was so windy.

There was a long queue inside the airport. There were only 2 immigration officers processing our papers. After clearing the immigration, upon collecting our bags, we were greeted by Airasia staffs. They do have a promo.  

High-5! AirAsia has been named the World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the fifth year running. To celebrate, they're giving away 2 pairs of free flights for the most creative High-5 moments shared with them.

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Where to Eat in Singapore

We ate whenever we were hungry. Foods in Singapore ranges from $3- $15 per person. In our case, we ordered different variety so we can taste them all.

When in Marina Bay Sands, we ate at Rasapura Masters Foodcourt.  They have mouthwatering foods from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and China. Gerry's Grill is here.

At Vivo City Mall, we ate at Food Republic.

We loved the Indonesian Chicken Barbeque.

At Serangoon, we ate at KFC. No gravy for the chicken :(

At Orchard road, we ate at Kabayan Filipino Restaurant at Lucky Plaza.

At Universal Studios, we ate at Starbot Cafe.

Leg of Turkey - $12

And our favorite.... Mongkok Dim Sum at the corner of Geylang Lorong 8. Foods were so yummy we actually ate here 4 times during our stay at Geylang. 

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