Sunday, December 25, 2022

Fort Canning Park & National Museum of Singapore: Where Nature Meets History, Art & Culture


Fort Canning Park is an iconic hilltop landmark in Singapore which has witnessed many of the island's historical milestones.

The park dates back to when Malay royalty once ruled in medieval times. Through time, it served as the Headquarters of the Far East Command Centre and British Army Barracks. The decision to surrender Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 was also made on the hill, in the Underground Far East Command Centre, commonly known as Battle Box. More recently, the park has turned into a venue for celebrations and plays host to exhibitions, concerts, theatre productions and festivals. Weddings, parties and gatherings are also a common sight at the park's expansive lawns.

The park was originally known as Bukit Larangan, or 'Forbidden Hill' in Malay as it was believed to be haunted. It was renamed Fort Canning in 1861 after Viscount Charles John Canning, the first Viceroy of India. 

Although small in terms of area, the hill has a long history intertwined with that of the city-state due to its location as the highest elevation within walking distance to the downtown city area. Today, the 18-hectare space surrounded by centuries old gateways and gazebos is a hotspot of attractions—from ancient artefacts for history buffs to manicured lawns for outdoor recreation and lush greenery for nature lovers. 

The charming boutique Hotel Fort Canning, is also situated within the premises.


Back in 2014, we stayed at Hotel Fort Canning as part of a babymoon staycation and spent a few days leisurely exploring the park. We hadn't been back since and it had always been on my list of places to visit with the kids. 

Fort Canning Park
A few months ago, I picked Fort Canning Park as a scootering venue for the girls followed by a visit to the National Museum of Singapore located nearby and finally a family lunch at Hotel Fort Canning to relive some fond memories.

After parking, one of the first sights we came across was the Gothic Gate. This archway serves as the entrance to Fort Canning Green and is marked with the letters “IHS” which translates to Iota Eta Sigma (the first three letters of the Greek word of Jesus).


There are enough sign posts and information boards so you can go about exploring the park in an organized manner. If you go with kids in tow, I encourage you to let them read for themselves and try to grasp the history of our Little Red Dot 😊


The ASEAN Sculpture Garden is the first garden that we encountered. There are 5 sculptures signifying different things that are put up for display in the garden.


We came across The Battle Box aka the Underground Far East Command Centre. During the Second World War, Lieutenant General Arthur Ernest Percival (Commander of British Forces) used the underground bunkers at Fort Canning as his commanding base.


I remember the 9-Pound Cannon from my previous visit to the park. Dating back to the 19th century, the cannon was said to be fired thrice daily to announce the hour; it was also fired to warn about town fires or even as a salute. The South Battery sits next to the cannon, and this is where the main gun battery was mounted to defend Singapore.


Fort Canning Park has wide open paths flanked by soothing greenery that makes it a great location for scootering, cycling, walking or running. 



Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Recipe of the month: Mexican Salad


It's high time for a salad recipe methinks 😁

You all know what goes on during the year-end holidays right? You take off from work, go places, meet friends and family, cook up a storm, eat out at fancy places and in general, indulge in merriment without a care in the world. Self-control goes for a toss and you may find yourself stuffing your face at any time of the day or night with yummy goodies, partaking in a bit more alcohol than usual (mulled wine anyone?) and enjoying one too many buffets. The overeating combined with lethargy for a span of a month or maybe even two indeed makes a difference. December-Jan is when the numbers on the weighing scale increase sharply, prompting all kinds of frantic New Year resolutions regarding health and fitness 😂 That is definitely what happens to me!

So, I'm bringing you a delicious and satisfying salad recipe just in time for the holidays so that in addition to the unspeakable amount of carbs you are invariably going to consume, you remember to get your nutrients, fiber and protein. This Mexican salad would be a wonderful addition on your Christmas or New Year dinner party table. 

I have made this grain-free salad multiple times and it always is well received. I usually make it as a side salad with a Mexican meal or as a side to go with burgers, pizza or sandwiches. It doesn't have too many ingredients and is very simple to put together. I make two variations of the same salad (which I have mentioned in the recipe below). Try both and decide for yourself which one you like better. Also, do check out the notes section at the bottom of the recipe for more tips. 

Here's sincerely hoping to bring you more salad recipes in 2023. Happy holidays 💗

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Christmas Special: Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Cookies


Hello December! I'm so glad you are here 🎄🎅 Typically, I can't wait to get out of Singapore as soon as December rolls around. But this year, I'm happy and content to be right where I am 😊

I can't tell you how long I've been wanting to make gingerbread cookies for Christmas. It has been one of things on my to-do list ever since I can remember. This year, I have finally managed to tick it off. And in the spirit of celebrating gender equality, I haven't just made gingerbread men but gingerbread women as well so I'm going to collectively term them 'gingerbread folk' 😄

My husband and I both love ginger as a spice. We like gingersnaps and tend to buy them whenever we spot them at grocery stores. And my love of cinnamon has already been extensively documented on the blog. So making gingerbread cookies was a no-brainer really. The key ingredient for these cookies is the dark molasses which is a byproduct of making sugar. This mildly sweet sticky syrup with a distinct flavor is what gives the gingerbread cookies their signature color, taste and texture. 


I' pretty sure I have mentioned this on my blog before but I'm reiterating just for the benefit of those who may not know. I generally don't prefer hard and crispy cookies. My kind of cookies are the soft and chewy variety. So that is exactly the kind of recipe I set out looking for. I found one and I felt like it would turn out the way I wanted it to. 

As I was baking these cookies, our home was filled with such amazing smells. Christmas was literally in the air! Even the girls who were busy playing in their room behind a closed door came out to the kitchen following the scent and asked "what smells so good in here?" 😄 The cookies were perfumed with a medley of warming spices, slightly crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside and had the right amount of sweetness (for us). I used a royal icing mix for decorating the cookies which made things easier. I'm not very good at piping or frosting in general but I was pleased with the outcome. 

Decorating these cookies is a really fun holiday activity you can do with the little ones. Our daughters really enjoyed decorating and then devouring their own cookies. From this recipe, I made only one batch of cookies. I've stashed the dough for the second batch in the freezer. The girls have made me solemnly swear that I'll let them decorate some more gingerbread cookies when I make the next batch 😊


We got our Christmas tree and decorations up a week ago, we've wrapped the presents, I've soaked the fruits for my annual Christmas cake and one batch of gingerbread cookies has been made and distributed. We are looking forward to catching up with friends and loved ones, cooking a lot of yummy food and having an enjoyable holiday season 😊


If you are looking for some holiday baking inspiration and haven't tried making these gingerbread cookies yet then give it a go. If you have children, get them involved and watch their little faces light up in glee!


Whether you are staying home this year or travelling overseas, I wish you and yours a joyous holiday season. 

Take care, be merry and stay safe 💗