Jani Journey Journal

So no one told you life is gonna be this way.

Is there any of you who doesn’t familiar with that sentences? If you don’t familiar with it, why don’t you just lock yourself up in your room, because you really missing something amazing. I may not be the biggest fan of F.R.I.E.N.D.S sitcom, but I gotta admit F.R.I.E.N.D.S is definitely the most iconic sitcom of all time. So when I heard there is a newly opened café with FRIENDS theme, I need to go there (even when it is thousand miles away from where I lived).

It was 10.37 PM when we arrived at the Central Perk Café at the Central Mall. My friends and I wasn’t expecting anything since the closing time is 11 PM. The waitress was kind enough to let us in anyway. I think that is because our tired and sad face. However the food and beverages selection is very limited she said. We don’t mind as long as we can take pictures at the iconic sets.

The place was pretty spacious. I think there were about 100 seats inside arranged exactly looked like the Central Perk Café (complete with extended studio set area) and also outdoor Streets of New York (recreated indoors). The replicas of the TV show properties is all over the café. The orange sofa, the brick walls, Monica’s kitchen and even Rachel’s wedding dress. It really do feel like you are a part of Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross life.

The menu incorporated the sitcom into it, such as ‘Monica Marinara’, ‘Rachel Green Salad’ or ‘Potato the Way Joey Likes It’. Cute huh? Rumor has it, the whole team watched the entire series before deciding the menu. Since it was near closing time, We ordered the ‘Heavy Fudge Chocolate Mudcake’ and ‘Mrs. Braversman’s Cheesecake’.

The ‘Heavy Fudge Chocolate Mudcake’ (SGD 16/IDR 152.000) is a layered brownie cake with chocolate mousse, chocolate glaze on top and berries plus chocolate crumbs on the sides. It was super duper rich! I love how intense the chocolate taste was. It was so rich and gooey and amazing. But since the cake was pretty dense, you’ll get full after about 3 or 5 spoon. I suggest you share the cake with your friends, even if you are not the share food kind of person.

On the other hand, the ‘Mrs. Braversman’s Cheesecake’ (SGD 16/IDR 152.000) was very light. The mousse-like layer of cream cheese was so smooth and has a tangy aftertaste that taste like mango. The berries and biscuit crumbles on the sides bring another texture and make it feel fresh. However the cheese smell pretty strong. Since I’m not a cheese kind of person, I’m not a big fan of this one.

I was very thankful to the waitress who let my friends and I came in, eventhough it was 20 minutes to closing time. I probably will come back again to try other menu. From what I read online, the food there was pretty good. And did I mention that they got 6 kind of roasted coffee that matches the personality of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S character? Yep, I'm definitely will come back to try those!

Disclaimer : some of the pictures in this post is belong to a dear friend of mine,Rani.

Kindly check her instagram @mmanggraeni for more pictures from her.

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Central Perk

Central Mall #01-01

1 Magazine Road

Singapore, 059567

Opening hours: 11AM – 11PM (closed on Monday)

Food: 4/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Price: 3/5

Service: 4/5

My trip to Singapore a couple weeks ago was very low on budget. I don’t have much money by then but I still want to make the most out of my trip to Singapore. After reading through tons of articles on the internet, I found out that Singapore has lots of FREE entertainment for a low budget traveler like me. And after hours of searching, turns out Sentosa Island, one of the most popular and considered expensive tourist attraction, offers lots of FREE entertainment also.

I gotta thank the Sentosa Island team for having an amazing website. The information given on the website was clear, complete and very helpful. I even arrange my Sentosa Island trip using their planner apps. After having a few back and forth discussion with my friends, we finally set the Sentosa Island itinerary just a few weeks before our flight.

And so my low budget adventure begins.

Disclaimer: the numbering on the list doesn’t mean it is the best or whatsoever.

It is just the number of the first to the very last attraction that I visited.

1. Southernmost Point of Continental Asia

Southernmost Point of Continental Asia is a small island, located at the southern part of Sentosa Island. The Southernmost Point of Continental Asia is supposed to be some kind of geographic phenomenon. However, I don’t think that this is the real Southernmost Point of Continental Asia though. The island is connected to the mainland with a beautiful suspension boardwalk. It has two viewing tower with a wooden bridge in between.

It offers the view of Sentosa Island coast, some ships and endless view of the South China Sea. I went there around 1PM and it was freaking hot! However I find this place quite calming since you can sit down, relaxing, cooling off yourself after a exploring the Sentosa Island. You can get a quiet evening walk along the coast.

Southernmost Point of Continental Asia

Palawan Beach

Sentosa Island, Singapore

Opening hours: 24/7

2. Palawan Beach

To be fair there are a few beaches on Sentosa Island. The Palawan Beach happens to be located right on the same location with Southernmost Point of Continental Asia.

Palawan Beach is great for taking an afternoon stroll with your family and friends, hanging out or even sun bathing. It has beautiful white sands and clear blue colored ocean. I instantly fall in love with this beach as it somehow makes you want to get in immediately.

Palawan Beach

Palawan Beach

Sentosa Island, Singapore

Opening hours: 24/7

3. Animal & Bird Encounter

Located right across the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, Animal & Bird Encounter offer you an up close animal experience. They have three spots for the show. A mini stage where you can get close to the animal, the bird aviary which filled with tons of beautiful birds and an amphitheater where main show usually happens. They have different show every hour, however the show may be cancelled due to the bad weather.

We missed the ‘Bird Encounters’ show at the amphitheater. However we managed to catch the ‘Close Encounters’ show at the mini stage which adjacent to the bird aviary. I was expecting to see some bird, monkey or any other animal (just please not snake). But then, the show was showing a Siberian Husky. I knew some other people was a bit upset with it. They probably expecting some other animal but it was just a dog, I felt the same way. But in the end I don’t mind because Mako (the name of the husky) was the sweetest dog I ever seen.

I haven’t check if whether the dog is the regular show or the other animal was just not ready by that time. Will check and update you guys later.

Animal & Bird Encounter

Palawan Beach

Sentosa Island, Singapore

Opening hours: daily programmes from 2PM to 5.30PM

4. Fort Siloso Skywalk

Fort Siloso Skywalk is a walkways in the sky that give you aerial views and beautiful scenery of Sentosa. The Fort Siloso Skywalk stands at 11 story high and accessible through both stairs and lifts. Along the trail, you can enjoy the treetops, sea and Singapore city on the other side.

There are a few rest stops where you can read up Singapore’s defense history. And by the end of the bridge, there is some sort of canon statue. From what I read online, there supposed to be a military museum and show by the end of the bridge. But my friends and I didn’t check it since it was already almost 5 and we are planning to go to somewhere else.

Fort Siloso Skywalk

Siloso Beach

Sentosa Island, Singapore

Opening hours: lift operation hours - 9AM to 7PM

*Guest still can access the skywalk through stairs near lift lobby

5. Crane Dance

Actually I didn’t see The Crane Dance show last week. I watched The Crane Dance a couple years ago, when I came here with my grandparents. However since it was free, located in Sentosa, I’ve seen it before and I personally love it, I really recommend you to see this one.

The show is a combination of robot gigantic crane, waterworks and fireworks combined as one. The show was beautifully done, even though I was a bit confused about the story at the beginning. From what I read online, it was a story about two crane that fell in love with each other. Hence the blue and pink led color around the robotic crane. Even with all of the confusion about the story, I felt happy to watch such a beautiful show. The combination of waterworks and lighting makes it feel more alive. Not to mention closing it with an amazing fireworks display. To be honest, it felt magical.

Anyway, please make sure you come early to get the best seat on the house. Since this show is free of charge, it will mostly packed with lots of people.

Crane Dance

Waterfront

Sentosa Island, Singapore

Opening hours: 8PM with a 10 min show daily

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Top tips for Sentosa:

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Sentosa Island

Singapore

Website: http://sentosa.com/

Yes, in the middle of the hectic life between work and university, I somehow managed to attend Coldplay’s ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ World Tour. Even up until now, I still can’t believe that I came to their concert. And now, I am gladly sharing all of the experience with you guys. However before we start, I need to warn you that this post is going to be full of ‘lebay’ awesomeness.

I’ve been a fan of Coldplay since I was 15. I don’t really remember my first Coldplay song, but ‘The Scientist’ has always etched in my mind. And then the list goes on with ‘Fix You’, ‘in My Place’ and on top of that is ‘Yellow’. I won’t say I’m a big fan or something. I didn’t know all of their songs nor got all of their albums. But to me Coldplay is different.

Their first single was released at 1998 (well I was only 6 years old by then). So it is almost 20 years for them to produce music from one era to another. Surviving the rough music industry after all those years is just something you should appreciate. They are not afraid to change. I found that through these 20 years of music, their music range is so wide. I can see people listen to them from different genders, age, class, etc. Maybe that’s why they last for 20 years.

Okay, enough with the blabbering. Let’s get to the concert details.

I got the seated ticket (CAT 2, I think) on 1^st of April 2017. I was planning to buy the standing ticket, but it was sold out right after my friend purchase hers. A little bragging here, I got the ticket on the same day it was sold (which was sold out just within an hour).

A couple of days before the concert, my friend got a notice from Sportshub, saying that the queue starts at 11AM for the standing ticket holder. For your information, all gate is opened at 6.30PM. It was such a waste of time but if I got the standing ticket, I wouldn’t mind at all waiting for Coldplay that long. As for the seated ticket holder, you can come anytime you want.

We are queuing based on the gate written on our ticket. My gate line had a bit of problem, as the committee somehow get in a few people who just got there and ignore the people who already in the line since the afternoon. It got a bit chaotic for about 10-15 minutes, but after that everything went well.

We were given the Xylobands after the ticket check. Xylobands are wristbands that contain light-emitting diodes and radio frequency receivers. The lights inside the wristband can be controlled by a software program, which sends signals to the wristband, instructing it to light up or blink. Sadly the Xyloband need to be returned after the show. Well it doesn’t do anything after the show though.

The opening act starts at 7PM sharp. It was about 30-45 minutes and then, everything felt surreal for me.

They opened the concert with ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ (obviously). I don’t really remember everything that happened that night. All I know is I cried when the first note came out. And also at the beginning of every song. And also at the ending of every song. Well, technically every time. LOL.

Other people that sat around me seems doesn’t as excited as I did. They were just sitting and singing from their seats. Meanwhile I spent my night jumping and dancing all around even though I was in the seated area. I was like, why aren’t you guys dance along?

To be honest, I don’t really remember the exact thing that happened during the concert. I probably enjoyed the concert too much, that all I can remember is just everything was so amazing. Other than amazing fireworks and laser used in the concert, all I can remember is that every song got their own ‘color’. The Xylobands light up the whole stadium in a most beautiful yet dramatic way. Like when the band played ‘Yellow’, the Xylobands went yellow and I got goosebumps all over my body.

The bands play so well that night, however I gotta give Chris Martin a special standing ovation. He run across the stage, he jumped, he sit down, he lay back, he did everything he could but his voice is still amazing. Not a single note missed and not looking tired at all. He and the band did it effortlessly, makes me love them more and more.

Not a single doubt has crossed my mind that A Head Full of Dreams is definitely THE BEST concert ever. It was one hell of an amazing night that you could never be missed. I personally thank Coldplay for putting such a wonderful show that made me fall in love with them all over again.

Well, here is to another 20 years of a head full of dreams.

I’m back!

Sorry for the lack of post on March. I’ve been very busy with university, work, exam, life and the list goes on and on. Excuses, I know. But here I am now, writing with a big grin on my face. Why you asked?

If you are following my instagram (if you are not, I strongly suggest you to follow me on instagram), I just had the most wonderful weekend in Singapore. I went to Sentosa Island, Gardens by the Bay, Central Perk Café, Gudetama Café, Platform 1904 and Artscience Museum. Oh and yes, I attend Coldplay’s “A Head Full of Dreams” Tour. How was it? Magical!

I’ve been a huge fan of Coldplay since I was 15 years old, seeing them playing with my own eyes felt surreal. I cried when they got on stage lol! I will tell you all about the details later in a very special post. Until then, please do take a look at the best bits of Singapore through my eyes.

Enjoy!