Posts Tagged ‘life’s challenges

05
Aug
12

SINGAPORE : ON GREATER HEIGHTS

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Singapore was to personally appreciate the city in a different and higher perspective. Fortunately, opportunity presented itself as almost everything was provided for FREE by friends and sponsors except for one. It was only my second visit to the Lion City and it’s awe-inspiring to see her from greater heights literally. Singapore is immensely beautiful from the ground, even more stunning from various vantage points!  :D

1-ALTITUDE BAR

When I met fellow bloggers at the Welcome Dinner at Landmark Village Hotel for 2012 Singapore Blog Awards hosted by OMY.Sg and Far East Hospitality Hotels, I asked a few of them if they’re doing anything on Saturday night after the event. I was glad to receive a positive response that they’re also interested to experience the newest bar in the city. We’re already in Singapore, might as well maximize the moment despite and in spite of everything. And because I only drink occasionally, my main intent was to capture the fireworks at 8PM from Marina Bay Sands and to see Singapore from its highest platform.

It took us two rides on the lifts to go up to the 63rd floor of One Raffles Place and a single flight of stairs to experience this breathtaking 360 degree-view of Singapore skyline from 1-Altitude Bar. Arguably the hippest bar in Singapore, 1-Altitude Gallery Bar stands at the peak of 282 metres, stretching 61st to 63rd floor of One Raffles Place and provides an unparalleled spectacular bird’s eye view of Singapore. My photos don’t do justice to the grand display of sights.

Marina Bay Sands and Singapore Skyline viewed from 1-ALTITUDE  BAR

  • 1-Altitude Gallery Bar | One Raffles Place [former OUB Centre] Singapore 048616 | Accessible via MRT from any point or in our case, from Bayfront at Marina Bay Sands to One Raffles Place.
    Cover charge : Sun to Thurs All Night Long S$25 nett inclusive of 1 standard housepour (yes, we paid the cover charge!) | Fri, Sat and eve of PH 6pm-9PM  S$25 nett inclusive of 1 standard housepour, 9PM till closing  S$30 nett inclusive of 1 standard housepour | Dresscode : Smart Casual on all outlets, no flip-flops or slippers, no shorts and bermudas allowed.
    For more details about 1-Altitude Bar, click HERE! 

SANDS SKYPARK at MARINA BAY SANDS

This lavishly beautiful hotel needs no detailed introduction; it’s iconic as the country’s Merlion. Although I and my family have yet to experience its luxurious accomodation in God-knows-when;  I’m grateful to be invited by MBS’ Social Media Officer, Ms. Philicia Tan to savor the incredibly beautiful Sands SkyPark views from its public observation deck and tour the MBS’ Infinity Pool. It was one of those fantastic moments!  ;)

  • For more details about Sands Skypark at Marina Bay Sands, click HERE!
    *Thank you to Ms. Philicia Tan, Social Media Officer | Communications | Marina Bay Sands for making this adventure possible.

SINGAPORE FLYER

Luck was indeed on my side because the venue of #SBA2012 was in Singapore Food Trail at Singapore Flyer. I was not surprised when they announced that each blogger-attendee shall have one FREE ticket to ride the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel at the height of 165 meters from the ground.  I felt the ultimate thrill-like-a-kid before taking the flight that spans 30-minute-revolution inside that 28-person-capacity-capsule that’s comparable to a bus or a size of a small classroom. The ride did not make me nauseous nor dizzy but unexpectedly sleepy and relaxed. The panoramic view’s breathtaking!

  • Singapore Flyer is a perfect venue for intimate dinner on air, wedding proposals and other momentous occasions.
    Singapore Flyer | 30 Raffles Avenue Singapore 039803.
    For more details about Singapore Flyer, click HERE!

CABLE CAR RIDE TO SENTOSA

Thanks to one of our sponsors, Far East Hospitality, particularly Elizabeth Hotel for providing us FREE tickets to Cable Car ride to Sentosa. I invited and brought my Singapore-based friend and former colleague, Gina and together, we enjoyed another height in Singapore. It’s another wonderful first-time-experience for the kid in me. We boarded the cable car from  the Singapore Cable Car Station at HarbourFront Tower Two after a hassle-free-MRT-ride. Because Tina, Gabby and I failed to go to Sentosa last year, I know nothing of the place; didn’t even expect to see the luxury cruise liner, Superstar Virgo on the shores below us. The ride inside that Angry-Bird-themed cable car was definitely one for the books! Best, it’s free! :)

For more details about Cable Car to Sentosa, click HERE!

—————–

ON A SERIOUS & PERSONAL NOTE | Except for the ascent to 1-Altitude Gallery Bar, I didn’t actually plan to go to different high places in Singapore prior to my recent 4D3N-July 2012-visit. And admittedly during the entire trip, I was having hassles at work (now resolved, I think) so it was like I’m physically present in the Lion City but my mind was focused in Penang. Imagine the feeling of being in the best heights in Singapore while facing a towering problems.  I just prayed and kept my faith and strengthen my belief that everything happens for a reason. It was an effort for me to deviate my attention from unpleasant happenings, more so the guilt of experiencing all this without Tina and Gabby. But after everything’s settled, I realized that adventures are best lived when we never know where life will take us. We may wonder what happiness-amidst-challenges means and we may not understand all things in a blink. What matters most is to firmly stand on the ground despite the challenges are sky-high.  :)

“It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys.”

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

—————–

23
Aug
11

DURING OUR TRYING TIMES…

PRAYERS are all we can offer against all trials that our family has been experiencing. Unbelievably, things have been emotionally, physically and financially draining but it is only through prayers that we gain strength and could keep our sanity intact amidst things that are happening beyond our understanding.

Just last Saturday, I was informed that Joshua, my 12 year old nephew back home had CVA (cerebrovascular accident), commonly known as stroke. His case was a result of an aneurysm or ballooning and rupture of blood vessels in his brain brought about by AVmal (arteriovenous malformation); unknown to all of us, he had that intracerebral vascular abnormality since the day he was born.

Who would have thought that a very active youngster as Joshua who has been playing basketball with his team in their school and community has congenital vascular abnormality that can suddenly lead to stroke?

I saw my nephew grow before my eyes and I can personally and professionally attest that his medical history had remained unremarkable until the said diagnosis. He even engaged in a game before he had the attack at home last weekend. He was immediately brought to the ER of The Medical City in Ortigas, was admitted to ICU and subjected to diagnostic imaging procedures (CT scan, angiogram).

When I called my mom, I chanced to talked to one of my nephew’s MDs; she confirmed it’s AV mal that led to bleed. Two days after, he was put under the knife to evacuate the clots and repair the 4 intracerebral blood vessels. According to my brother (Joshua’s dad), the first operation was a success to initially repair the 3 blood vessels, and his son will be operated on for the second time (hopefully the last) today, Tuesday.

(At such a young age,)  He’s already post left frontal burr craniectomy with placement of ICP monitoring device, post embolization of left parietal arteriovenous malformation and craniotomy, evacuation of hematoma.

We ask for prayers for his uneventful surgeries and less complicated recovery.

Months ago, when my paternal grandmother passed away, one of my aunts failed to bear the situation, she also incurred stroke and until now, has been undergoing rehabilitation and recuperation. Our prayers also go out to my Tita Violy.

I need not elaborate on our other domestic problems; nothing can be more difficult than having family members with physical ailments. In my almost 35 years of existence, it has already dawned on me that life’s full of inevitable challenges but we believe we have a good Lord who’s definitely bigger than our burdens.

Life goes on.

We just have to keep the faith.

And uplift our spirits.

UPDATE : As of Tueday, 23rd Aug 2011, accdg to my relatives back home, his operation went well, the clot that was removed as per their description was as big as an apple. 72 hours post-op observation is highly critical, so please help us in praying for joshua’s recuperation. thank you po.

————————————-

About the photo above : Sunset viewed from our porch last 22 August 2011. For some, sundown is perceived negatively, i think otherwise; it’s a promise of a new hope, a fresh beginning.




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