Trip Ko Lang

Makansutra Sign

I have been in Singapore late last year, now misses Singaporean/Hawker style foods and have decided to get a feel of Singapore again and have a taste of their authentic cuisines in Makansutra. Makansutra Asian Food Village is located in the 2nd floor of Manila Ocean Park in Luneta, Manila. It has been a long time since I last visited Luneta Park and it really looked different now that Manila Ocean Park has been built just behind the Quirino Grandstand. Last night, I was just like a tourist in my own place… hehe. Getting inside Makansutra gives you a feeling you are in a different environment/place but not Singapore because it doesn’t look like this. I think the look of Makansutra is more on the classic and elite style of hawker foods.

Overall, I love the place and its ambience. Interior design is very well thought of as well as all the facilities used. Here are some pictures of Makansutra, able to get these after being approached by the management several times (more than 4 times? ) and reminded that taking pictures is not allowed. It was a bit disappointing that they would not allow pictures and videos even taking pictures of our ordered food. I really don’t get the management’s view on this and I would not recommend anyone to celebrate their birthdays or any special event in Makansutra and surely you won’t have souvenirs of it.

Makansutra entrance

Makansutra walkway and stalls

Makansutra walkway, beverages section and stalls

Makansutra signage

Accommodation

Accommodation

1. HDB stands for housing and development board, low-cost housing built by the government.

2. For a short-stay or a long-term one, it is good to look for a reasonable priced and near the MRT stations HDB units.

3. PinoySG is the best online resource in looking for a unit. You just have to look for the right price and right place for your stay.

4. Usually a room or a bed space is for rent. A lot Pinoys share in one HDB unit, around 4 to 6 persons. PUB or the public utility bill is shared.

5. TV cable, landline and wifi are additional expenses and still a shared cost.

6. Old units still have squat toilets. If you are not used to this, better avoid it and make sure to check the toilet first when viewing the unit.

7. Best HDB units are found near MRT stations. They are a bit expensive because of its accessibility.

8. Usually, there’s a grocery, mini stores, church and recreational park near an HDB unit.

9. It is good to look for a unit owned by Pinoys or to live with other Pinoys than live with other race.

10. But just a gentle warning, make sure to know the Pinoy you’re going to live with, because there are a lot of Pinoys trying to take advantage of new Pinoys coming in Singapore.

11. Before going to Singapore, make sure you have an accommodation, terms and conditions with the owner are clear, and you have done some research on the place and people you’re going to live with.

Food and Dining

Food in Singapore

1. You can find any type of cuisine – Chinese, Indian, Malay, American, Swedish, Filipino, and etc.

2. Hawker food are the cheapest, a meal would normally cost S$2 to S$4 (P66 to P132)

3. Fast food is expensive, if you try to convert it in peso. One cheeseburger meal in Mcdo would cost $6 (P198).

4. In our stay, we loved Long John Silver, prices are reasonable and has good food – fried chicken, fish, shrimp, fries and chips.

5. Kopitiam is the term used for their food court. Most malls have Kopitiam, and food here are more decent and clean compared to Hawkers.

6. Take-Away is the term used for take-outs. Eat here for dine-in.

7. IKEA Cafeteria offers great and delicious Swedish food. We loved their meatballs.

8. You can find authentic Chinese food in ChinaTown. Only in Singapore, I tasted authentic Siopao and Siew Mai. (Super Sulit!)

9. Nasi Lemak, a malay food, a combination of egg, fried chicken, Malay “sausage” (not sure what it’s called), dried fish, rice and a bagoong like sauce that is really spicy. They have different combinations, better try them all. 

10. Ice Kachang is Singapore’s halo-halo. But it is more icey, colorful and full of different gulamans.

11. TCC The Coffee Connoisseur, best coffee shop to hang out with friends A bit pricey but worth it.

12. Satay chicken, pork, mutton with peanut sauce is also delicious. You can try these in Raffles station – Lau Pa Sat. We ordered these with rice, a sticky rice that doesn’t look like a rice, more like a puto. So embarrassing we asked 3 times, where’s our rice?

Mobile phone and Internet

Globe Kababayan Sim Card

Singtel Top-up Card

1. You can buy your Globe-Singtel Kababayan Sim card in Lucky Plaza. This is the best and most recommended sim card for Pinoys staying in Singapore. (approx. S$20)

2. Singtel Hi and Hello Top-up cards are used to re-load your mobile credits. Cheapest load is S$10.

3. Mobile phone is called Handphone.

4. Load is called Top-up.

5. Not sure exactly about the text and call rates. But personally, I find it cheap and I can text and call anyone in the Philippines anytime.

6. Wifi is available at home. All home owners have their own wifi connections. This is part of their PUB every month.

7. It is not advisable to connect to unsecured wifi.

8. It is also not advisable to download pirated movies and musics. The government can access and track anyone’s internet connections.

If you’re planning to take a trip to the finest city in Asia or you have decided to migrate and search for a job, here are some useful tips that I have gathered based on my experience when I invaded Singapore last Sept to Nov 2008. These items do not follow any order, so just read them.

MRT and bus

1. They are the most reliable transportation in the city.

2. Tickets are re-loadable; credits can be used in Mcdo and 7-11.

3. In mrt, one person per chair/space is strictly followed. Unlike in Manila, kung makakasiksik, sige lang, if ever you did this, people will really stare at you.

4. Expect to smell something…don’t want to be mean..but for sure you will really learn to hold your breath longer. Haha.

5. For the bus, there is always an entry and exit doors, usually, front one is the entry and back one is the exit. And make sure you tap your card once you get in and get out of the bus.

6. Buses have their numbers. They have their own routes and you have to know which bus to take, there are bus guides in all bus stops.

7. You can’t go down just anywhere, there are bus stops. And a stop button to press if you are near your bus stop.

8. Buses have schedules; usually they have an interval of 10 to 30 minutes.

9. Traffic is not an issue in Singapore. You can never make this a reason for being late in your appointment.

MRT and Bus