Jang Keun Suk in Singapore: JKS Autograph Signing Event

Jang Keun Suk Autograph Signing Event

April 23, 2010
Garden Plaza, IMM Mall

We arrived at IMM Mall around 3pm. There were already a lot of Eels queuing and waiting for the Fan Signing. I am so happy since the venue is an open space so we will get to see the whole action. We met Clara, a fellow Filipino Eel, there. She was already sitting in front, around 4-5 rows behind the front row of the non-VIP section.

While waiting for the event to start, there were Jang Keun Suk FM merchandise sold in the entrance of Garden Plaza. Of course, we bought JKS stuffs as possibly we can (without being impulsive). I bought a JKS Cheering Set (inclusive of cheering towel, 3 button pins, and light stick), Photo Cards, and a Janggeo Paper Bag, worth SGD 55 for all items. Ate bought a unique flash drive (which we don't know how to use until now!) with JKS printed on it worth SGD 70.

Jang Keun Suk Singapore Fan Meet Merchandise

Anyhoo, before we bought all these, we happen to see a sophisticated woman roaming around the JKS merchandise table. And I remembered her as.... Jang Keun Suk's omoni!!! Thanks to Soompi where I saw a picture of her. I really don't know what to do when I saw her. I would like to have a picture with her but I don't have the courage to just barge in and invade her privacy. I was thinking that the fans might crowd her when they realize its JKS' mom. Until I realized, heck, I went this far from Philippines and this is only a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a picture with JKS' mom (at least his mom) so I have to go and ask! But... she already left for the escalator. *sigh* Our paths crossed twice and for those two brief moments she was always smiling and really looks very nice.

Let's go on with the Fan Signing event. It was already several minutes past 5pm and JKS isn't coming out yet. Worst of all, heavy rain poured breaking the lines!  Hmmmp. The venue was covered but not entirely, so those fans outside the roof are crampping us, those inside the shed. My view should have been nice but thanks to the rain! >.< Weren't able to get good pictures tuloy. O_o

At last around 5:30-5:45pm, I think, JKS arrived and the crowd went wild (including us)! OMG! He's really so handsome! Complexion is really white and his skin looks so smooth and soft. He has some gestures which are really girly but my Ate said, it's kinda normal to Korean guys. I second the motion. But that makes him look more classy and cute! ♥ ♥ ♥ Anyway, there was a small interview done, then he went on to the Fan Sign. He was trying his best to speak in English, thankfully. Apparently, it was kind of hard for me to understand because of the loud rain and the cheering of fans plus the diction. I captured some good parts, though. Haha! Such as, "Kiss my ass!" Haha.. He said that jokingly to the gay-ish host that said something pervert. There were only 100 fans who got the VIP tickets and were allowed to have an authograph of JKS, the lucky, lucky, lucky people! The whole event lasted for about an hour or so with subdued rain showers.

Singapore Food Trip

Amongst other Asian countries, I would say that Singapore Cuisine has the most diverse taste since its country has three major races, the Chinese, Malays, and Indians. So, I would say Singapore cuisine is a gastronomic fusion.

During the course of my trip, I was able to sample the "must-eats" in Singapore at the famous food centers.

Maxwell Food Center (near Chinatown)

• Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice - I particularly went to Maxwell Food Center just to taste the ever-famous Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice which was featured by Anthony Bourdain in his No Reservations show. I queued for about 30 minutes and the fact that the queue is that long, I know the place is really a must. The dish looks very simple with the chicken looking bland and all but the taste is just so right and sumptuous especially when you mix it with the condiments and the rice. The price of only SGD 2.5-3.0 is also a plus!

Note: Tian Tian opens at around 11:00am but Maxwell is already open by 8:00am

• Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang - Nasi Lemak is a Malay dish meaning rice cooked in coconut milk. Along with the rice, it is served with fried dilis, sambal, and a viand of your choice. For my breakfast, I chose the uber hot Beef Rendang. The combination of crunchy dilis to rice and rendang is a nice touch to your every bite.

Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang

• Fishball Noodle - We were a bit early at Maxwell and Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice isn't open yet (we were told to be back by 11am). So I scoured Maxwell for my breakfast and found this. Typical noodles with oyster sauce or soy sauce as the base. The fishballs are good, though.

• Drinks (Fresh Sugar Cane Juice and Grass Jelly Juice) - I love Singapore juices! They are so fresh, squeezed right in front you (at least for the fruit and sugar cane). It was my first time to drink fresh Sugar Cane juice. Sugar canes went to the presser or whatever you call that, and voila, fresh juice served for SGD 1.50. Grass Jelly Juice, on the other hand, is just another name of Gulaman for us, Filipinos. I love Pinoy gulaman and so as this one!

Grass Jelly Juice

Makansutra Gluttons Bay
behind the Esplanade Mall
opens at 6pm until 3am

Makansutra is a touristy place and so are the prices of the food. Prices are about SGD 1-2 higher than hawker centers. But I just have to be here. Never mind the price. The night was packed with both tourists and locals and it was hard to find a table. Anyways, we ordered Hokkien Mie and Seafood Rice for our dinner.

Hokkien Mie

Seafood Rice

Bedok Hawker Center and other Mall Food Courts

• Laksa - Malay noodle soup with coconut milk. Not really my kind of taste, or perhaps, its just this particular stall. Hmmm, I just realized that Malays love coconut milk, don't they?

• Char Siew Rice - Barbequed pork with rice. Simple yet bursting with flavor in every bite for only SGD 2.

• Ice Kachang - Ice shaved dessert similar to Halo-Halo. It has red monggo, sweet corn, jelly, and other ingredients I don't know. But this tastes like almond jelly. Good eat at SGD 1.5.

• Char Kway Teow - Stir fried noodle dish. I was really excited to eat this, looking so yummy, but the cockles burst my bubble! Set aside the cockles, this is good, though.

What I had was just a sampler. I am yet to taste the other Singapore must eats in the future, so I'll definitely be back, Singapore! Chilli Crabs, you're next!

'Till my next Culinary Adventure! :)

Singapore, Second Time Around. (Day 2 of 4)

Day 2: April 23, 2010

Itinerary

• Bedok
• Fragrance Hotel Balestier 
• IMM Jurong East (JKS Fan Signing)

Our day started with Arlyn's set homemade breakfast for us. We weren't able to bid goodbyes to their Dad, Ryan (their other brother), and Camille (Arlyn's BFF) since they have gone to work already when we woke up. By the way, their unit is quite big and is at the top most floor, so nice view! The unit, though, is at SGD 1,700 per month (almost PhP 60k)! Whew! Arlyn said this is the cheapest O_o

Some photo ops before we leave their unit. They sent us off at Jurong MTR Station.

Inside Bernabe's Flat with Ariel.

Ariel and Arlyn

We went to the other end of Singapore, Bedok, to meet Ico and Jen (Ico's fiancé) to get our Fan Meet Tickets and poster! Yay! :) They treated us in a Hawker Center. Finally, I get to eat here. This was my major frustration last time when the Hawker Centers are close due to Chinese New Year. I want to eat the authentic Singapore food, the common Singaporeans do, and that is, in Hawker Centers. Food here is a lot cheaper as well, meals start at SGD 2.00.

Anyway, I had Laksa, a Malay noodle soup with coconut milk. Not much my type though.

Laksa

Ate had Char Siew Rice. I should've ordered this instead. It was yuuummmmmmy!

Char Siew Rice, SGD 2.

Ico and Jen had Fried Prawn Hokkien Mie. Two thumbs up as well!

For dessert, I bought Ice Kachang for SGD 1.50. It's like the SG version of Halo-Halo but with different ingredients. It has corn and tastes like almond jelly? Basta masarap din siya. :)

Ice Kachang

After eating, we went to Ico and Jen's flat, from HDB as well. This HDB condominium, however, is newer compared to Jurong, hence, the interiors are more updated and contemporary.

Ico and Jen's Kitchen.

We checked in first in our hotel, Fragrance Hotel Balestier, we got the room on sale for SGD 75 per day. The room and bathroom were actually small but it was clean and decent enough. They even have LCD for the TV. Plus, the receptionists are Filipinos. :)

We travelled back again to Jurong for the Fan Signing Event of Jang Keun Suk. This event is actually for the VIP ticket holders (They are the only ones allowed to have his signature!). Thank God, this is held in an open-space venue so we were still able to see him. Will blog this event in detail in a separate post. :)

After the event, we roamed around IMM mall to do some shopping. Apparently, we found nothing. Cotton On sale was tempting though, but nothing fits me. We ate dinner at the mall's Food Court and went back to Fragrance Hotel to rest and prepare for the long queue the next day.

Singapore, Second Time Around.

This trip was conjured in a snap. Never have I thought I'd be going back to Singapore after a year, moreover, all because of Jang Geun Suk. ♥ Not much of sight-seeing for this trip, just JGS and the food :)

Day 1: April 22, 2010
MNL - SIN via Cebu Pacific (5J803)
ETD: 2050H
ETA: 2355H

Surprisingly, we'll be riding the plane with Ariel on our way to Singapore. Takot ang bata lumipad mag-isa, kaya ayan, sumabay talaga sa amin. Haha! Anyway, we met him up at NAIA Terminal 3 at around 5:30pm. We landed in Singapore Budget Terminal 5-10 minutes earlier than our ETA.

Since we arrived this late, we would be wasting money if we will check-in a hotel. So we spent the night in Ariel's family HDB unit in Jurong West. We took a cab going here since MTR nor buses are no longer servicing this late. The fare from Changi to Jurong West was SGD 41 including the surcharges.

Arlyn met us and then we had our midnight dinner. We also met their Dad. It was really late already and Ate and I are both very shy to barge in to their house at this hour. Moreover, sleep there for the night. They were sooooo accomodating and hospitable.

After eating midnight snack (na kanin), we all called it night. Bangenge na nga si Arlyn, kakaantay sa amin. Hehe.

Side note: During my first time in SG, as far as I can remember, the taxis I saw and rode were 99% new models. Apparently, for this trip, all the taxis I rode were rather, hmmmm, old.

Taxi Station in Singapore Budget Terminal. Old and New car models.