Arlyn and Ryse in SG...

Despite the haze that choked the whole island for days, the week still ended on a good note because of visiting friends.

Sisters Arlyn and Ryse, who I both met through my best friend Tey, were in town for a holiday. It was Arlyn's first trip to Singapore (surprisingly). I wasn't able to ask Ryse if it was the same thing for her.

It's always a happy moment for me whenever friends from Manila come and visit. Aside from the catchup, it is also an opportunity to play tour guide to friends.

Hmm, personally, I'd like to show friends the not-so-touristy parts of the island. I know that Orchard, the Esplanade and Merlion Park, Bugis, to name a few, are mandatory places to visits.

But if possible, and that is if visiting friends are interested and they have the time, I'd bring them to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, or cafe' hopping at Tiong Bahru, or even cycling at Pulau Ubin just to see another side of the island-state. It's not really Singa-bore.

Thankfully, the air quality improved somehow by Friday night and we were able to do a bit of both.

Originally, Arlyn and Ryse wanted to try chilli crabs and cereal prawns. No Signboard or Jumbo Seafood could have easily been an option. Instead, I suggested instead we go to the chilli crab place in Ghim Moh.

However, because of the PSI readings that day, it was better that we dine indoors. We sacrificed the chilli crab and just went for the cereal prawns (and coffee pork ribs, ngor hiong, and fried rice! Hehe!). I brought them to Le Chasseur, which was right across Central, and is one of the nicer zi char places.

Afterwards, I was ready to go to Clarke Quay, which is really not my fave place and is not my scene for obvious reasons (hehe), but I know it's a must-visit for tourists.

Instead, we ended going to Club St. in Ann Siang Hill since Ryse's SG-based friend was there. I forgot about that area as a (better) alternative to Clarke Quay (again because it is not my scene). Hehe!

We took the bus from Central and had to walk a bit to Club St., but it was also an opportunity to show Chinatown, Maxwell area, Neil Road(!) to the sisters before leaving them at Club St. with Ryse's friend.

Saturday, I met up again with the sisters. PG Boy had class and I didn't have anything scheduled so I was able to hang out with them before they leave for Manila. (I was tentatively scheduled to play museum tour guide to Tipz's folks, but they had other plans, I think. Hehe!) Simon, a common friend who's SG-based as well, joined us, too.

That day, we did the touristy activities, which was still fun. We started the afternoon by shopping at H&M, followed by a long, good lunch at Din Tai Fung in Paragon, and then going to Ion for more shopping for them.

Simon and I agreed that it was a short visit. There were still more to do, more to see. Hehe! Arlyn and Ryse said they will be back when friend Rej visits from Dubai and when JoAnn gives birth months from now. Yay!

This coming weekend will also be a busy and happy one because another two friends - I-van and Moi -are flying in.