1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #37 - Cat Cat, Sapa

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #37

- Cat Cat, Sapa Valley, Vietnam
(Is Sapa as lovely as they had made it out to be in travel brochures? Yes, and more. Amidst terraced hills and the mist of the cold mountain air of 9C, the place looks heavenly. Add to this the free-roaming black pigs and buffalos, and the charm of the local kids, this is a must-see place for everyone. So serene, so peaceful for the heart and soul)

 

1001 Places/Experience to See or Savour #36 - Sapa Train

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #36

- Train Journey to Sapa Valley, Vietnam
(A classic bone-shaker of a train that takes you overnight from Hanoi to Lao Chao, the town at the foot of the Sapa mountain. The cabin sleeps 4 adults ..you can sleep, provided you can handle the noise, the shaking and the regular stops along the 8-hour journey. It's a charming ride all the same..Orient-Express, Vietnam style)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #35 - Sweet desserts, Hanoi style

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #35

- Sweet desserts, Old Quarters, Hanoi
(Back for a second bite, this desserts corner along Hang Bac street, Old Quarters, is one of the big reasons why I am back again in Hanoi. Gulping lotus paste and ah-balling Hanoi style, is simply a delight in the 15C cool night. The other big reason for my return is on my head..yes, the myriad french-caps sold here is irresistible, but this pink one, I'd lost in Prague earlier this year..now rightfully back on my crown)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #34 - Haikou

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #34

 

- "Reflections of Hainan", Haikou, China

 

(A mini-Beijing Olympics was on display, produced by the same man himself Zhang Yimou, with jaw-dropping scenes such as a wind-surfer on a cube, and a pool literally opening up in front of our eyes where once stood a concrete stage..awesome show! But had to freeze our buns out..it was by the seaside and the night temperature happened to be in the low10s..how did the performers stay warm??)

 

1001 Places/Experiences tp See and Savour #33 - Sanya

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #33

 

- Guanyin Park, Sanya, China

 

(The towering 108m-high Guanyin, sitting serenely in the sea. The size of it is not apparently at first until you view from her from the beach with your own height to compare and contrast with. A prayer at the foot of the Goddess of Mercy brings special closeness for me)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #32 - Sanya

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #32

- Yalong Bay, Sanya, Hainan, China

(A bit of Sanya's famed beachfront, still a hot 30C in the winter month of December.. a little too crowded though but the inexpensive beach wear options made up for it)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #31 - Ku De Ta

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #31

- Ku De Ta, Marina Bay Sands, Spore

(Mushrooms that melt in your mouths, with steaks that are cooked almost perfectly, Ku De Ta's reputation as a top restaurant seemed intact. Somehow, I have a sense that I will be back again..)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #30 - Skypark

Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #30

- Skypark, 57th Floor, Marina Bay Sands, Spore

 

(Up on this "ship" on the 57th Floor for the first time, atop the MBS..absolutely breath-taking!

With the financial centre in front of you and the Gardens By The Bay on the right, the view is simply one of a kind. Everyone should get up there..it seemed like you don't require any dining-reservations to get it there, so go do it, everyone!)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #29 - Children Concert

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #29

- Dancing with My Children's Concert, NTUC Auditorium, Spore

(A beautiful Concert finale with all 173 children at the impressive NTUC Auditorium at Marina Bay. When the backstage curtains and shades are lifted behind the children, it is a wonderful sight to behold!

What a privilege indeed for me to dance with these lovely children of my preschools)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #28 - David Foster

Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #28

- David Foster & Friends Concert, Star Theatre, Spore

 (Chaka Khan in Singapore, and singing to me? Can this be true? Indeed, the Queen has finally arrived under the David Foster banner of stars, with big pipes, as clear as ever, to match. "I'm Every Woman"...surely the best anthem for any cancer survivor.

This is our second outing to see his gig..the last time being headlined by Natalie Cole and Peter Cetera in 2010 - click here
http://www.beatcancer10.blogspot.sg/2010/11/foster-ing-friends.html.)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #27 - Loola's

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #27

- Loola's Restaurant, Esplanade, Singapore

(In keeping with her Awfully Chocolate pedigree, the owner of Loola's has put together another beauty, this time at the Esplanade. That chocolate brownie with butterscotch icecream is a great way to indulge in some naughty calories, if you can look past the rather tardy service there. But then, you get to see the owner herself minding the tables, an upside of a wait-staff crunch all over our island)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #26 - National Broadway Company

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #26

- "National Broadway Company" play, Esplanade, Singapore

 

(What a nice roundup of the best plays in Singapore over the years, through the eye of maestro Ong Ken Seng, with BeautyWorld being the main feature. Seeing Jacintha again, and her "lookalike" Tabitha Nauser singing the Cats theme song was a highlight, but the role of Emma Yong played by Julia Abueva was an even more surprising highlight)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #25 - Swimming With The Sharks

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #25

- "Swimming WithThe Sharks", Drama Centre, Singapore

(Swimming through a night of f--ing expletives, this play was absorbing and professionally executed, made all the more watchable by the 'other George' - rookie George Young. Adrian Pang was, as usual, at his classy best; better on stage than the small screen)

Dr Ang Peng Tiam : "You are in good shape, Nellie"

To hear your doctor/onco tell you:
"You are in good shape, Nellie"
..it is simply music to my ears!

And Dr Ang Peng Tiam continued by saying that I have "graduated" from PET to CAT.
Meaning, no need for the more expensive PET scans anymore,  when the next appointment with him comes around in 6 months' time.

Excellent news..lets find my graduation gown and mortar board! I wish I could look a little like below..oh, such innocence, sigh..

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #24 - KLGCC

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #24

- KLGCC, Kuala Lumpur Golf Country Club, Malaysia

(Surely one of the most impressive golf courses in this region. Both18holes courses are delightfully tough, with natural surroundings in many holes. Plus their nasi lemak is a must-have to kill the morning hunger pangs)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #23 - Eric Carle

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #23

 - Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Mermaid Theatre Nova Scotia, Fusionopolis, Singapore

(This children's story is a gem, but when performed by these Canadian puppeteers using flourescent puppets in darkness, this wonderful story and its lovable caterpillar simply jump out at your face! Wow, never seen it done like this before..ever)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #22 - Malacca Yong Tau Foo

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #22

- Yong Tau Foo Noodles, Malacca, Malaysia

(One of the best street foodstalls in Malacca and inside a non-descript blue-coloured shop corner - 50m from Bayview Hotel -  is this delightful noodle shop with excellent yong tau foo picks and charsiew add-ons that will shake your tastebuds..yum!)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #21 - JPO

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #21

- Johor Premium Outlet, JB, Malaysia

(Okay, so it's not the size or sizzle of Pandorf in Vienna - see earlier posting "Places #12" - but still, it's quite impressive. Just 30minutes from the Causeway and with Burberry + Coach on its list of luxury names, JPO can be a nice getaway for some retail therapy)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #20 - Kaohsiung

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #20

- Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

(This massive Buddhist Monastery, the largest in Taiwan and possibly the region, housed the impressive 36m high Golden Buddha. The banner on the site caught my eye.."Do Good Things, Speak Good Words, Think Good Thoughts", a good mantra for life, indeed)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #19 - Happy Ever Laughter

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #19

- Happy Ever Laughter,
12 comedians, Esplanade, Singapore

(2 hours of belly-aching laughter, with Najip and Sebastian stealing the show with their sets.

And oh, that Obedient Wife and TCM Lady were new revelations ..they were totally spot-on! Kudos, Siti Khalijah and Judee Tan! And please develop both characters further)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #18 - Taipeh 101

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour after Remission #18

- Taipeh 101, Taiwan

(Will this be one of the world's new Pyramids in 1000 years' time? One word comes immediately to mind..Wow! Even with half of it behind the clouds.)

1001 Places/Experience to See or Savour #17 - Milk Mango

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour after Remission #17

- "Milk Mangoes", Pingtung province, southern Taiwan

(Mangoes+glutinous rice from Thailand, sun-dried ones from Philiipines, R2E2 from Australia but "milk" mangoes from Taiwan? Yes, what a super surprise to find them stacked high along the roadside in brilliant shades of yellow and red, and when they are cut fresh into thick icecube sizes that slither into your mouth, hmmm...)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #16 - Gardens By The Bay

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour after Remission #16

The Supertrees in the evening glow, wow!

- "Gardens By The Bay" Opening Day, with Jason Mraz, Singapore

(This is a 2-in-1 experience that will uplift anyone to new heights! Imagine being serenaded by Grammy-winner Jason Mraz in his soldout concert, on the opening day of the new botanical icon, Gardens By The Bay, right here in sunny Singapore. Hello Life, I'm yours!)

A quote of eternal wisdom from Jason on the night:
"When our true love breaks down and forgets their greatness, it's up to you to love them back into the person you know them to be"

Jason and Corinne May