This is the Day the Lord Has Made

"What a great day it is." This is what I said today when I woke up. It's good to be saying this to myself. I remember not wanting to even wake up in the morning just last month because of a seemingly super heavy burden.

Anyway, I just got back from my trip to Israel and started noting my travel adventures in a new blog . . .

My Holy Land Pilgrimage

I previous pilgrimage was a Marian pilgrimage was a "Marian Pilgrimage" in Europe. I had the time of my life there for we went in Autumn and I just love the colorful sight of Autumn leaves. Do visit this site, thanks . . .

Europe Travel Blog

I also visited Malaysia, a place where nature and modern buildings blend. My travel blog on this one is . . .

Holidays in Malaysia


Have a happy day!!!

A Temple at Temple Street

Included in the list of my many requests from my sister was the visit to a temple and a church. Early the day after our arrival, we walked the streets of Singapore towards Chinatown. We were fortunate to have come to this place where a temple was built, a Hindu temple.

People were removing their footwear before entering the temple. It is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple. One can enter the temple without any fee unless you will be using your camera, for you will have to pay 3 Singapore dollars (but it's worth going inside to take photos or video footages).

It was such a lovely day, a day to give thanks to our Maker. I was truly grateful just being there in a wonderful country with my wonderful kid sister whom I haven't been with like this for ages.

The Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple. It is an agamic temple, built in the Dravidian style. Located at No. 244 South Bridge Road, in the downtown Chinatown district, the temple serves mainly South Indian Tamil Hindu Singaporeans in the city-state. Due to its architectural and historical significance, the temple has been gazetted a National Monument and is a major tourist attraction. Sri Mariamman Temple is managed by the Hindu Endowments Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

The Sri Mariamman Temple was founded in 1827 by Naraina Pillai, eight years after the British East India Company established a trading settlement in Singapore.

Pillai was a government clerk from Penang who arrived in Singapore with Stamford Raffles on his second visit to the island in May 1819. He went on to set up the island's first construction company. He also entered the textile trade. Pillai rapidly established himself in business and was identified as a leader of the Indian community.


Once every 12 years, in keeping with Hindu tradition, the temple is reconsecrated. The unique annual fire-walking ceremony is held about a week before Deepavali -- the Festival of Lights.

Source: Wikipedia

Back To Where She Used To Belong

"Hey, let's stop for a while and have a souvenir photo in front of the Raffles Hotel."


Yup, this was what I suggested to my kid sister during one of our strolling moments. Too bad we were not able to go inside the Raffles Hotel Museum which I searched to be open 10 am to 7 pm, with no admission charge. To check-in to this hotel was not in our list for just about then. Room rates? 600 to 900 Singapore dollars.

My sister used to work in Singapore more than a decade ago. It was her idea to go visit the new Singapore, now bigger in size due to more reclaimed land plus lots and lots of state-of-the-art structures (SkyPark).

It was a wonder to me why she wanted to go back. She said she saw old photos of her friends during their working stint at Singapore plus new ones which she found awesome.

As what we saw in the new photos, mostly in the internet, we were not disappointed for Singapore was a great place to be. Eyes and tummies at feast.

Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore dating from 1887, named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Raffles International, it is known for its luxurious accommodation and superb restaurants. The hotel houses a tropical garden courtyard, museum and Victorian-style theater.

The hotel was founded by the 4 Armenian Sarkies Brothers (Martin, Tigran, Aviet, and Arshak Sarkies). They opened the 10-room colonial bungalow at Beach Road and Bras Basah Road owned by an Arab trader and philanthropist Syed Mohamed Alsagoff on 1 December 1887.

Designed by architect Regent Alfred John Bidwell of Swan and Maclaren, the current main building of Raffles Hotel was completed in 1899. The hotel continued to expand over the years with the addition of wings, a verandah, a ballroom, a bar and billiards room, and further buildings and rooms.

It re-opened on 16 September 1991; while the hotel was restored to the grand style of its heyday in 1915, significant changes were made. All rooms were converted to suites with teak-wood floors, handmade carpets, and 14-foot ceilings. The storied Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling cocktail drink was invented was relocated from the lobby to a new adjoining shopping arcade.

On 8 April 2010, The Straits Times reported that a Qatar sovereign wealth fund has bought Raffles Hotel.


Source:Wikipedia

Sky Park Hotel

Before going to Singapore, I went surfing the internet for tourist attractions that I can go to. And viola, I got to know of this awesome spot I just have to see, the Marina Sands SkyPark.

My sister is an architect and I am an engineer, so being able to see this grand structure is a real treat for both of us.

As a bonus, we were even fortunate to see a rainbow atop the building, as we gazed in wonder at this beautiful sight, God's creation at the background of man's artwork. Wow!

The Sands SkyPark is an awe-inspiring engineering wonder. This unique structural masterpiece, designed by visionary architect Moshe Safdie, floats atop the three soaring Marina Bay Sands hotel towers 200m in the sky.

Stretching longer than the Eiffel tower laid down or four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3900 people. The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world. From this privileged observation deck, hundreds of visitors at a time can feast their eyes on the unforgettable panorama view.

With the Sands SkyPark pool and Observation Deck open, take in the astounding features!

The Sands SkyPark is an architectural masterpiece sitting on top of the three hotel towers at Marina Bay Sands. This 1.2 hectare tropical oasis is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall and large enough to park four-and-a-half A380 jumbo jets. It extends to form the one of the world’s largest public cantilevers.

Source: Official Site Marina Bay Sands Singapore

Fine, Fine

Singapore is an interesting place to visit.

Roaming around, looking for some souvenir items, I saw T-shirts with the print "Singapore is a fine city." With the print were the dont's so that you don't get to pay a significant fine.

No durian?

Stick to the rules so your money goes to your shopping spree and not to paying of any fine. Yo!

Sunshine and Smiles

Come on, let's conquer this part of the world today!

This was our mindset, as my sister and I woke up that morning, not minding that we slept late the night before after our tour at the Universal Studios in Sentosa Island.

So we got up in a breeze and went walking at the still nearly empty streets of Singapore. The air was cool though the sunshine was starting its way to be felt, not wanting to be ignored.

Then, I saw these young girls in bright-colored dresses. I had to meet them. My goal was to add new friends whenever I travel.


And viola! Got a photo opportunity (thanks sis). Good item for my memory box.

Smile ladies!