Something Random, Something Nice

Many guests left many random things behind the hostel.

As one would say, fun is only restricted by your imagination :)
So on some occasions, you will find some guests not sleeping. But instead doing some things which they themselves couldn't comprehend why.

**** I did witness the entire process, and a picture was taken in the toilet. Sadly I have no idea where is the picture. But since such memorable event should not be forgotten, so I depicted the picture based on my memories. Which is simply bears from different lands crowding in the small shower room, having fun :) ****

And sometimes ending off the night with pork stew in the washer.

Along with the sincerity of a smile,differences were forgotten.
Friendships across the border are forged.

With the echoes of the laughter,
Imprints of the smiles.
Can you see it?
Many left a part of their wonderful memories behind:)

So now, what would you leave behind in the hostel? :)

- Paula :)

Featured in newspaper, beary nice! :)

Our little hostel was briefly mentioned in our local newspaper, "Straits Times" for the Singapore's National Day special on 9th August 2010. A month back, a journalist was walking around Chinatown looking for 'new shops' residing in the good old conserved shophouses in Chinatown for his article on "Old shophouses house new shops". I received a text message from Diane asking me to call this guy because he wanted to interview me... and well, I called him and the rest are all in the small little article (actually we spoke more than that and funny the photos seems to be missing.. hehe... oh well..) :)




Anyway, it felt good to be mentioned in the news again! The last time was a surprised one but this time round, we know what and when it's going to be published. I must say, its a different kind of feeling. Here's the previous article in case you've missed it and don't know what I'm yakking about.. ha ha!

Are you hungry this month? Well, maybe you are a ghost? :)

Yesterday when I came back from Malaysia, saw alot of people burning incense sticks and lighting candles along my neighbourhood block and then I was thinking, what's the occasion? Ahh... then I remembered that my mum briefly mentioned to me over the weekend that it's the start of the Hungry Ghost Festival this month... to be exact, 10th August 2010. :)

Yup, it's the time of the month where the chinese believes that our spiritual friends from the Gates of Hell are released to roam around and visit their dearest ones for a month. It's sort of like Halloween but much more spiritual I guess because at the start of the month, people will start to pray, burn incense sticks, papers and light candles along the road to ensure that the spirits are not lost and welcomes them... it's also the time to 'feed' the spirits in the form of prayers, fruits, roasted meat, rice and cakes.

The reason why it's called Hungry Ghost Festival is also because the spirits are locked up in Hell, right, so, in that 'world', they are not very well fed, so upon release, the spirits will 'eat' non stop but in truth, more like in accordance to my mum, when one dies and becomes a spirit, one will always feel hungry because a spirit is always empty inside. So, we, Chinese will pray and bring out the best offerings for the spirits hoping, this month, they will be well fed, satiated and go back to Hell once it's the end of the festival.

This is also the time of the month my mum will not allow us to travel abroad, especially places that have water which means the beach is a big no no. Superstitions believes that if we travel during this time of the month, well, 'accidents' tend to happen more. Probably because the spirits may feel a little naughty, angry, lonely or whatever and want to sort of 'drag' people down to Hell with them... I know, I make it sound so crude and evil, but it's superstitions and it's up to each person's believe. :)

You can see these happening around Singapore, especially in the heartlands but definitely in Chinatown!!! There will be Chinese Opera and upbeat singing stage performances to 'entertain our spiritual friends' and it's free for all throughout the month of Hungry Ghost Festival. If you can find seats in the front row, please please DO NOT sit on it as it is reserved for our special guests, the spirits. If the spirits are being cooped up for 11 months for the rest of the year, with no entertainment at all, I'm sure they deserve a VIP front row seat, ya! Oh ya, those singing performances that happens in the evenings and nights are called 'Getai'.


Since our hostel is located right smack in the middle of Chinatown (no kidding!), do immerse yourself in this one of a kind festival and maybe you can spot one or two spirits while you are at it!! ha ha! :)

What's Happening: Hungry Ghost Festival (7th Month Festival)

Where: Chinatown, Open Field beside Spring Street Singapore

When: 10 Aug - 7 Sep 2010

Enjoy the Festival, folks!

Singapore's 45th Birthday on 9th August 2010!!

So, there'll be roadblocks, fireworks and lotsa parades happening on 9th August. Just wanna inform our dear travelers that you could also join in the fun for Singapore's National Day celebrations! Probably can catch the spectacular fireworks, aerial acrobatics and also the parade of the Mobile Column. This year's National Day Parade (NDP) marks not only a return to the historic Padang after five years, but also the first mobile column display featured since then. The Mobile Column, a crowd favourite whenever it is featured, will be the highlight again in this year's NDP. This year, there will be more than 200 vehicles featuring the SAF's 3 Generation capabilities and Home Team's assets. It will roll pass City Hall and into the heartlands.

The Mobile Column will bring the National Day Parade Celebrations from the Padang to different parts of Singapore. The Mobile Column will move to the heartlands after the drive past at the Padang along three different routes (North-Eastern, Northern and Western routes). They will travel through various townships, arriving at the five Heartland celebration locations of Sengkang, Eunos, Bishan, Woodlands and Choa Chu Kang. Here's the route which the Mobile Column will cover. :)

NORTH-EASTERN ROUTE - EUNOS AND SENGKANG
ST ANDREW'S ROAD->MARINA BOULEVARD->BAYFRONT AVE-> RAFFLES AVE->NICOLL HIGHWAY->MOUNTBATTEN RD->SIMS AVE-> UPPER PAYA LEBAR RD->UPPER SERANGOON RD->HOUGANG AVE 8-> HOUGANG AVE 6->SENGKANG CENTRAL->COMPASSVALE RD-> SENGKANG SQUARE


NORTHERN ROUTE - BISHAN AND WOODLANDS
ST ANDREW'S ROAD->PARLIAMENT PLACE->FULLERTON RD ESPLANADE DR->NICOLL HIGHWAY->MIDDLE RD-> VICTORIA ST->JLN SULTAN->KING GEORGE AVE-> KITCHENER RD-> SERANGOON RD->BALESTIER RD-> MOULMEIN RD->THOMSON RD->LORNIE RD-> BRADDELL RD->BISHAN RD-> ANG MO KIO AVE 8-> ANG MO KIO AVE 5->YIO CHU KANG RD-> UPPER THOMSON RD->SEMBAWANG RD->GAMBAS AVE-> WOODLANDS AVE 7->WOODLANDS AVE 4-> WOODLANDS AVE 9->WOODLANDS AVE 5-> WOODLANDS SQUARE


WESTERN ROUTE - CHOA CHU KANG
ST. ANDREW'S RD->HILL ST->RIVER VALLEY RD-> HOOT KIAM RD->PATERSON HILL->PATERSON RD ->ORCHARD RD-> KILLINEY RD->RIVER VALLEY RD ->DELTA RD-> ALEXANDRA RD->COMMONWEALTH AVE ->COMMONWEALTH AVE WEST->TOH TUCK AVE->BUKIT BATOK EAST AVE 3-> BUKIT BATOK CENTRAL->BUKIT BATOK WEST AVE 2-> BUKIT BATOK WEST AVE 5 ->BUKIT BATOK RD-> CHOA CHU KANG WAY->CHOA CHU KANG AVE 4-> CHOA CHU KANG WAY

Tips for Watching National Day Fireworks 2010 for FREE

Don't miss the fireworks for Singapore NDP 2010! This year, the fireworks will be launched from 9 locations:

- The Padang
- City Hall
- Esplanade Theatre
- the waters of Marina Bay
- Suntec City
- Pan Pacific Hotel
- Ritz Carlton Millenia Hotel
- UOB Plaza & Maybank Tower

Best Picnic and Photography Spots to Watch Fireworks in Singapore:

1)The Esplanade Theatre Waterfront Promenade
A very convenient spot overall.
You need to find a good spot if you don't want to see the construction sites in your fireworks photos.

2)The Esplanade Bridge
A good place if you want the Merlion included in your fireworks photos.
However, you still need to a wide-angle lens because the fireworks are pretty near.
This spot is incredibly crowded during the New Year's Eve Countdown fireworks.

3) Merlion Park
Go to the Merlion Park if you want to hear the loud booms and to feel the fireworks 'falling on you'.
A difficult place to get everything into your camera unless you use a fish eye lens or a wide-angle lens.
Suitable to take children to, but crowded. You'll need to get there early and occupy the kids meaningfully.

4) Clifford Pier
A small area available to the public. Better if you book a seat at One on the Bund restaurant (see below).

5) The Promontory @ Marina Boulevard NEW!
This spot was a fireworks photographer's favourite before the re-construction took place. You get sweeping views across the water towards the Marina Bay hotels.
Now refurbished, it's a lovely green space.
Likely the venue of some carnival or fair during fireworks night and therefore a good spot to take kids to.
Some photos of fireworks as seen from Marina Boulevard.

6) Marina Bay Sands Waterfront Boardwalk NEW!
This newly completed timber boardwalk is situated just in front of Marina Bay Sands. It takes you all the way to the water's edge.

7) Helix Bridge NEW!
The spiralling steelwork may hinder your view of the fireworks. But it also creates an interesting perspective.
There are also uninterrupted platform areas that protrude over the waters, which offers an interesting vantage view over the skyline.

8) Marina Barrage
Farther away than all the other viewing spots, but offer a 'sense' of seclusion.
Take the MRT to Marina South Station. Then SBS Bus No. 400 or the Marina Barrage Shuttle Bus to the Barrage.

So practically any waterfront location at Marina Bay will be a good spot to watch the fireworks for NDP 2010 (as well as the flypast). Expect the fireworks to be launched near the end of the Show Segment, probably around 7.30pm - 8pm. Obviously, you'll need to turn up earlier to find yourself some space.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
In the event of bad weather (or for health safety and other pertinent reasons), the NE Shows and Parades may be delayed, cut short or postponed. If this happens, the fireworks will be similarly affected.

So, hope some of you will be able to catch some of it and truly feel the spirit of Singapore when the nation celebrates it's 45th birthday! :)Best

Happy Birthday P!

Yupz, just did a little surprise pre-birthday celebration @ hostel specially for dear Puspa. And glad that my plan worked, Puspa was caught off-guard. Well, her real birthday is tomorrow, 24th July 2010 but she's not working on her birthday, of course, so I had to do it one day earlier. Here are some of the photos taken just now! More photos can be found at abearygoodhostel facebook! Happy Birthday, P! Hope you like the gift and cake! :)

P's Birthday Cake

Yup, that's P totally embarrassed by the surprise.. hehe..:)

"I wish I can go for spa every single day!!"

P's Gift, a crazy lamp!!

She is one of the craziest person I've ever met, so, when I saw this cute lamp with "CRAZY" on it, told myself, this is the one I must get for her!! ha ha!

Once again, Happy Birthday, gal! :)

p/s: Sorry Paula, I missed celebrating your birthday last month cos I was busy celebrating mine a day before yours..hehe...-_- but I do have something specially for you when you are back on your shift tomorrow, ya! :)

Highlights: Come play at the bay! Saturday, 17th July 2010

Alot of happenings today at Marina Bay area! Five events converge on Marina Bay with two offering free exhibitions, music performances and movies.

1) Carnival @ Marina Bay
When: Today (17th July 2010) and Tomorrow (18th July 2010)
What's happening:
- FREE Screening of Avatar @ 8.15pm tonight at the Promontory
- Jazz, Chinese orchestra and drumming concerts
- Activities include zorb balls (left), paddle boats and water tricycles
- Viewers at the Promontory can also see the Singapore National Day Parade rehearsal fireworks @ 8.15pm tonight and a Cosplay runway show tomorrow

2) Night Festival: New World 2010
When: Today (17th July 2010), 7pm to 2am

Where: Singapore Art Museum, SMU Green, National Museum
What's happening at the Singapore Art Museum:
- Flea market featuring clothes, accessories and household items starts at 6pm
- Art exhibitions such as the Art Garden for kids
- Interactive performances such as Abusement Park, in which the basement has been turned into a dungeon, and Music Hall, where visitors can sing along to Indonesian karaoke

What's happening at the SMU Green:
- Cambodian acrobats perform balancing acts and stunts

What's happening at the National Museum:
- Six satellite dishes project strobe lights and sounds culled from solar winds and radio waves

3) The New Paper Big Walk @ Marina Bay
When: Tomorrow (17 July 2010), 7.30am
What's happening:
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will flag off some 20,000 participants at the Singapore Flyer. The 4km route will snake past various sites including the Promontory @ Marina Bay, the newly-completed Mist Walk and Clifford Pier.

4) Youth Olympic Games rehearsal
Where: At the Marina Bay floating platform, for performers in the Opening Ceremony

5) National Day parade rehearsal
Where: At the Padang, for students only. Some roads will be closed today for the show.

Pizza Night and An Animal in the hostel?

Hey there, just wanna share some photos of Pizza Night we just had yesterday.





There should have been more photos but Puspa did not manage to take them as we were too distracted by an 'animal' roaming about in the hostel last night. Yup, we accepted an animal as a guest yesterday. The animal chose our hostel to stay because of the cute bears and how appropriate is that since The animal is looking for a place closer to its natural home setting. Since the zoo does not offer hostel like facilities, The animal will have to make do in a beary good hostel! ha ha!

The things we have to 'tolerate' to make ends meet, nowadays... :)

Okay, to prove that I'm not making this up, I took videos of The animal. This animal has mixed personalities. It can turn into an Elephant, Horse and Monkey. Enjoy the videos folks!

As you can see in the 3rd video, I tried making Puspa to make any animal noise, but she just refused to do it.. and Nicholas, naturally cant stop himself, he is afterall THE ANIMAL!! Oh yes, The animal is called Nicholas. And we fed him too....


p/s: Thanks to Nicholas for being such a sport. I really had a good laugh last night! Hope you have a good roam about in Singapore today!

A beary Happy post!!!

Just wanna express my happiness to the world, something good happened to the hostel today. Can't really explain what exactly but it's a really, really happy news! And I wanna celebrate by buying drinks for all the guests in the hostel today!!! Yup! Drinks on me! TODAY!!! 9TH JULY 2010!!!!! And Bill, my bro suggests we have PIZZA night today, so yup, free pizzas too! 7:00pm hot piping pizza to be delivered!!!

5 heartland neighborhoods for a taste of real Singapore

Singapore may be known for its wide variety of exotic foods, bustling shopping malls and vibrant nightlife. However, the true Singapore spirit will always remain in the roots of the heartland neighborhoods where its rich culture comes alive.

1. Little India


Go to anywhere within Little India and you will immediately feel its rich Indian culture. Dubbed "the heart of Little India", the Tekka Centre is one of the many places you must visit. Although the exteriors of this place may seem unappealing, you will experience the Indian community at its rawest. Some of the products offered here are a riot of colors of Indian sarees, bangles, antiques, and even face jewelries. While you’re there, also be sure to visit the Tekka Wet Market in the first level. The poultry there is of the freshest and cheapest throughout Singapore as well, given that the butchers will de-skin or de-feather them right in front of your eyes.

Other places to visit are the surrounding temples, artsy stores and of course, the 24/7 mega mall, Mustafa Centre.

2. Telok Blangah


Translated to mean ‘cooking pot bay’ in Malay due to its cooking pot-esque perimeter of the neighborhood, Telok Blangah is situated at the south of Singapore. If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle from the city, and to breathe the freshest air the country has to offer, Telok Blangah is the perfect location. One of the must-visit places would be Mount Faber, where it offers a panoramic view of the skyscrapers and other buildings in downtown and other nearby areas. And if you’d just like to have a quiet time alone with Mother Nature, head over to Labrador Park. The peacefulness of the park and mere sounds of water splashing against the rocks on the beach will certainly revitalize and nourish your soul. Also, expect to find many historical relics left behind by the British forces from World War II.

3. Geylang


Geylang is known for its authentic local food, fresh durians and the notorious (but legal) red light district. The streets, typically numbered from 1 to 42, are named lorong or lor, which is a direct translation in Malay.

Many of the food stalls are located at two-story shop houses, and are open from the afternoon till late at night. One of the more popular food stalls located here is Leong Kee at Geylang Lor 11, famous for its savory bak kut teh which is a Chinese pork soup. Another famous spot is People’s Prawn Noodles located at the next street street, Geylang Lor 12. Many locals flock there every day for its unique and genuine taste of prawn noodles.

4. Chinatown


A community enclave for the Chinese since the 19th century, Chinatown is one of the few places in Singapore that has retained a significant portion of its historical and cultural roots. Many of its quaint shophouses are still around and most of them have been upgraded.

Needless to say, the food in Chinatown is a must-try while you are over there, especially the famous Bakkwa, which is a Chinese salty-sweet barbecued pork jerky. Although it is normally eaten during the Chinese New Year, locals find the taste so hard to resist that it has become a popular gift year round.

5. Holland Village


Extremely popular with the expatriates, Holland Village (Holland V for short) offers a large selection of dining, shopping and bars. Many of Singapore’s most popular local food chains such as Crystal Jade, Thai Express and Frolick are all located here. And while there are many other fine restaurants and bars in the area, none can beat the popularity of Wala Wala. They are especially known for their tasty and crispy pizzas and 1-for-1 cheap cold beers during happy hour. The restaurant-bar is also famous for their amazing live band and live broadcast of football matches.

Note: This article is extracted from CNNGo Singapore.

5 levels of weird: Singapore foods you know you should try

Sorry for the hiatus folks, have been so sick to my stomach, puking like mad and can barely do anything at all for the past weeks.. Now that I'm better, finally get to browse around my favourite sites and soak up all the news and happenings that I've missed! and yes, I have been that sick till I cant even surf the net. :P

Anyway, talking about puke, I found this article very very interesting or maybe a little yucky. For those of you who ummmm... can't stomach weird/odd/bizzare food (which I personally not a fan of weird food too), well, do skip this blog entry. :P

Give the fried noodles and chicken rice a rest and expand your gastronomic horizons with some 'delicacies' from the stranger side of Singapore's foodie character. We start with the plain uncommon, moving through unusual and end at the downright bizarre.

1. Kacang pool/phool or fhoul


This is the Southeast-Asian rendition of the Middle-Eastern dish ful medammas. The version here has beef mince mixed with pureed and chopped beans (primarily fava or broad beans) seasoned with local spices and bathed in a sauce that's much like satay peanut sauce. Toppings include chopped onions, sliced green chilies, and an egg, sunny side up. Squeeze some lime over it, break the egg yolk and mix. Mop it all up with warm, toasty baguette slices.

An Arab family runs Fhoul Madinah Istimewa Original Kacang Pool at 1 Geylang Serai, @02-114 Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre. Mamu's Kitchen at Block 1 Bedok Road, Stall no. 26 Bedok Food Centre, also does a mean and hearty version.

2. Fuzhou UFOs (oyster cakes)


These fritters are nicknamed UFOs because they resemble little flying saucers. Anthony Bourdain describes these as “deep-fried Foochow-style beignet of oysters, minced pork, prawns and batter” that are “pure goodness”. Best eaten fresh with some chili sauce and washed down with a cold glass of sugar cane juice. Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake has been selling these little treats for over 50 years. They proudly display Bourdain’s photo and an excerpt from his book "The Nasty Bits" describing how he enjoyed the snack. Find them at Maxwell Road, #01-05 Maxwell Food Centre (Tel: +65 9344 1296).

3. Eel skin crisps


If you didn't know what these were made of, you'd probably think they were great fish crackers. But the remarkable crunch comes from the delicate skin of eels. Some menus list them simply as “deep-fried fish skin”. They are increasingly popular in Chinese cze-char (cook and fry) restaurants as an appetiser, and they are often served with a savory soy-based dip. The skin still stays fairly crisp even when drenched in the broth. Be warned, these crisps are dangerously addictive, and the fact you’re chomping on the skin of eels will quickly be forgotten. Until you finish.

Ask for it at casual Cantonese eateries Sha Tin Kitchen, 10B Lorong 3 Geylang (Tel: +65 6747 2483) or Wo Peng at 476/478 Macpherson Road (Tel: +65 6747 9892).

4. Steamed shark head


Basically throwing anything away is a waste, so some restaurateurs made a dish out of the normally inedible gelatinous shark head. There's no meat on the cone-shaped bone, except for gelatinous shark cartilage and some fat, but that very texture is what is coveted by aficionados. A lightly sweetened soy-sesame sauce is all that's needed to season the dish, but some like it with more intense sauces.

Tian Jin Hai claims to have invented the dish in Singapore. They recently resurfaced at a stall at 70 Zion Road, Zion Riverside Food Centre #01-09 (Tel: +65 6385 7831). You can also get steamed shark head at the no-frills, retro restaurant Old Mother Hen at 136 Sims Avenue (Tel: +65 6841 8789).

5. Crocodile paws


Certainly not one for the squeamish. You really do get a whole crocodilian paw, claws, skin and all in your soup or claypot when you order this. It’s frighteningly huge. Once you summon the guts to sink your teeth into it, you’ll find the skin is soft, chewy and gelatinous like sea cucumber. But why would anyone want to eat this reptile? Well, oit is alleged that crocodile gives a whole host of health benefits like improving metabolism, vitality, immunity, and of course, the libido. And it tastes like chicken.

Cafe de Hong Kong (586 Balestier Road, #01-01 Eastpac Building. Tel: +65 6255 3865) does many familiar cze-char favorites well, but its lone exotic dish of braised crocodile paw always grabs patrons’ attention. You’ll need to give them notice at least one hour ahead for this special dish. There is also a stall called Crocodile Kingdom specializing in all dishes crocodile at Block 51 Old Airport Road #01-107 Old Airport Road Food Centre. Tel: +65 9240 0886.

Note: This article is extracted from CNNGo Singapore. :)