LUXURY TRIP IN FINE CITY - SINGAPORE !! (28 - 30/8/2010)

Singapore is a bustling cosmopolitan city that offers a world-class living environment, with her landscape populated by high-rise buildings and gardens. She is famous with the collage of cultures, where people of different ethnicities and beliefs coexists, and also other kind of attractions such as food, culture & art, casino, marina bay sand, museum, river cruise, sentosa, night safari, zoo, rainforest.......etc

This trip to Singapore was my second time visit to this place, it is my pleasure to join Sue yin for this "luxury" trip. thanks for her to invite me. First time visit to Singapore was 1 year ago, that time we had visit to Sentosa, geylang and Chinatown. We did not overnight in Singapore but we stayed in Pulai Spring Resort.

For this time, we had visit to different attractions in Singapore ~~ Marina Bay Sand, Casino, Zoo Singapore, Bugis Street & Orchard Road.

28/8/2010 (Sat) - we departed to Singapore by bus from Malacca at 8.30am (Bus ticket RM22 / person). It took around 4 hours to reach there. Sue yin's brother fetched us from Lavendar Street (bus station) which is quite close to the accommodation we stay - PARKROYAL Serviced Suites in beach road.

PARKROYAL Serviced Suites offers a choice of 90 well-appointed one and two-bedroom apartments. We stayed in two-bedroom apartments which have a panoramic view of the city skyline and sea, fully equipped kitchenettes, personal washing machines, dryers, modern LCD televisions and home entertainment systems. The locations is just minutes from the Central Business District (CBD).

We checked-in the suites at 2pm and went to Bugis street to have our lunch. The Bugis street just few street away from the suites. There offered different choices of food and the price are reasonable. we ordered laksa mee ($3), mee soup ($3), claypot rice ($5), Pumpkin kuih($1.20 per plate), shui ge ($1.50 for 6pcs), bak kuh teh ($5), original Sugar Cane($1.50), dumpling ($3 for 6 pcs).

After filled up our stomach, is time to shopping around Bugis Street ^.^ Due to limited time and money, Sue Yin and I just bought belt from there, buy 2 free 1 for $10, the price is acceptable for us. :D Then, city tour around Singapore and we went to Mount Faber.

Mount Faber is a hill about 105 metres in height in Singapore. The summit is accessible by road, but there are many footpaths leading up the hill. It is a frequent tourist destination, as it provides a panoramic view of the increasingly dense central business district within the Central Area. Its slope includes a tower that is part of the Singapore Cable car system that connects to HarbourFront and Sentosa. It is accessible from the HarbourFront MRT Station.

Around 7pm, we had our dinner in NO SIGNBOARD restaurant which located in Geylang, it is famous with the seafood, many people also having dinner there, mostly is tourist. You may refer to this website ( http://nosignboardseafood.com/ ). We ordered Chili crab, Crispy Cereal Crayfish, Garlic Steamed Bamboo Clam, Hokkien Style Steamed fish, kangkung, friend Chicken.... this dinner cost $200++. The food was quite satisfied but the services is not so good, we had wait so long to get our dishes, we finished our meal around 9pm. Thought want go Marina Skypark after Dinner, but the Skypark is close at 10pm, we had change our plan to visit Casino only.

We parked car in Marina Bay and walk to the casino, we go through the World's First Double Helix Pedestrian Bridge in Singapore. It closing the loop on 3.5 KM pedestrian path around the Marina Bay development in Singapore. Inspired by the helicoidal structure of DNA, the pedestrian bridge stretches 280 meters over the bay and includes a computer-controlled lighting system to set the mood. The bridge is nearby the Youth Olympic Park which is the Singapore first art park.

After a walk distance from the Pedestrian Bridge, we reached the casino which in Marina Bay Sand. For Malaysian, entrance fee for Casino is free, photographic is not allowed. After this, Sue yin and I went to Butter Factory which in One Fullerton to meet Edmund and friends. It was so fun and enjoyed the night with them. After the event, we got our taxi to go back to our suite, $8.40, 50% midnight surcharge after midnight. http://www.taxisingapore.com/taxi-fare/

29/9/2010 (sun), early morning we had visited to Shipyard. Thanks to Sue yin brother to give us this memorable experience. After this, we had our breakfast in food court at HDB residential area. Chicken porridge ($2.50), fish Porridge ($3.00), fried lobak ($3), mihun kueh ($3), ban mee($2.50), teh halia($0.90).

Next, we went to Zoo Singapore, $18 per person. (http://www.zoo.com.sg). You may refer to this website since the website have provide sufficient information for visitor. It is worth to visit and spend whole day there.

Lunch we had in Soup Restaurant at VIVO city. NO MSG. NO COLOURINGS. ALL NATURAL. The dishes was delicious, is recommended to try it if you are affordable with the price. We ordered Samsui Ginger Chicken, Hometown Fried Fish Belly, Teochew Olive Rice, Steamed Fish, Winter melon Soup, Hotplate Tofu, mix vegetable, chinese tea....The price was around $170++. http://www.souprestaurant.com.sg/index_ori.html.

Walk around the Vivo city. There have many of shop, but one of the shop was attract me to walk in - National Geographic. First Asian retail store in Singapore. The store opening builds on the success of National Geographic's strong customer base for its media products. More than a traditional retail environment, this 1,500-square-metre store will feature a retail marketplace, exhibition space and unique "experience zones" for multisensory activities designed to stimulate, educate and inspire visitors

http://press.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/index.jsp?pageID=pressReleases_detail&siteID=1&cid=1229091572438

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/5848/national-geographic-store-at-vivo-city-in-singapore.html

Just walk a while, we got a taxi to go back park royal ($7.60) and take a rest before proceed to next journey. Next destination was Sands Skypark.

The Sand Skypark is an architectural masterpiece sitting on top of the three hotel towers at Marina Bay Sand. The entrance for adult is $20, for old folk age 55 above was $17, We can see the spectacular views of Singapore. There also famous with the 150-meter infinity swimming pool, the worls's largest outdoor pool at that height which open only to hotel guests. Evening time is the most suitable time to visit Skypark, you may see the different view for sunset and night view.

http://www.marinabaysands.com/SandsSkypark/Sands_Sky_Park.aspx

Taxi fare from Marina Sand Bay to Explanade was $6.80 although the place is quite near, because they will extra charge $3 for taxi took from Marina Sand Bay. Dinner time at Makansutra which just located besides the explanade shopping mall. The price is more expensive than the food we ate for this 2 days in Bugis street and HDB residential area. 4 of us ordered mee goreng($6), fried lobak ($5), martabak($6), fried kuey teow ($5), wu xiang ($10.20), rojak ($3), chinese tea ($1). The food taste still acceptable but the price is slightly expensive.

After dinner, we walked around esplanade there and one fullerton. We took photo with Merlion and the beautiful night view in Singapore. Taxi fares from One fullerton to Park royal is $4.80.

30/8/2010 (Mon) - 9am, Sueyin and I have pay a visit to the swimming pool in Park Royal hotel. The weather is so hot on that time, we just take a photo and walk away.. =.= Then, we went to buy breakfast from the ground floor food stall, $7.50 for all. Then mineral water $1.50 for 1.5 titres per bottle.

As our plan, we went to Lucky shopping mall by Chrysler Taxi. The taxi fares is jump from $5, then each 385m is $0.30, The price is much more expensive than normal taxi we sat before. total taxi fares from park royal to Lucky shopping mall is $9.80. Dollar & scent is selling perfume at cheaper price. May recommend if someone want purchase perfume. Then, we walked around Orchard road and realize there have many branded shops. >.<

We get MRT from Orchard road to Bugis street due to raining day. If want buy ticket, $2 per person, and refund $1 after you return the card; if using EZ link card, fee only charge $0.71 price for one way from Orchard to City hall, and same for CIty hall to Bugis street.

After this, having lunch in Bugis Food Junction. Different choices of dishes can order from different stores, self services. Fried Sotong wudong soup ($4.90), Chicken Bento($6.20), boneless chicken rice ($5). Then is shopping times at Bugis street, we are hope we got more money to spend, many clothes, accessories, souvenir.... are selling there. The price are reasonable and some consider quite cheap also.

Shopping time is past so quickly, we had to rush back hotel to keep our things. Bus ticket is $20 from Singapore to Malacca. From 5pm, around 4 hour we just reach Malacca, and that is THE END of our singapore trip. ENJOYED~~~ :D

Meaningful Day ~~ Wee Tat graduation (7 & 8 Aug'10)

8/8/2010, "88" in chinese is a lucky number, this date, also belongs to Wee Tat big day~~ convocation at UTEM, malacca ... Congratulation Bro!! Wish you have a brightness future in your life.

Before go Wee Tat's convo, we planned to have a makan - makan trip in Malacca.

Due to fai have working on saturday and come back late, we just depart our way to Malacca on 6pm, all gather in my house, 5 of us - fai, kiwi, eric, wee tat and me, 1 car go~~~ a bit jam when we reach after alor gajah tol, maybe is weekend and Singapore national on Monday, many tourists travel to malacca.

Around 8pm we reach Melaka Raya and meet Sueyin and Sabrina there. Sueyin bring us to a cafe named "Pearl cafe". She introduce the dry tomyam mi hun kuey, spicy and hot, taste quite nice.... RM7.90 per bowl. worth to try. The cafe have provide games and magazines for customer having fun there. We choose to play Carrom and Uno Stacko/Jengga.

second round, we going to Geographer Cafe which located at Jonker Street. It's so happening with the live band and the guests are dancing on the dance floor, other customers either enjoying the atmosphere, relaxing, joking with friends, playing cards, chit-chat, listening music, drinking bir......

Third round, Satay Celup at "Ban Lee Siang Restaurant ". gave chance for Eric try the local satay before leaving to Hong Kong. We just ate few sticks, since everyone was quite full for previous meal.

After few round, at last we decided to check-in "Pink Hotel" at 2am.. yes... you dint see wrong.. is 2AM morning... luckily the hotel still can let us check-in at this "early" time. It really a budget hotel but facilities still acceptable, have heater, air-conditioner, tv.... Sueyin have book a 2 king size bed room for guys, is cost RM92. It located at Jalan Ujong Pasir.

Second day ~~ Wee Tat convo

6.30am, Wee tat have to go UTEM for preparation, while we sleep till 9am just wait up for our breakfast - Chong Hwa Chicken Rice Ball, most original chicken rice in Malacca. This chicken rice restaurant is situated at the corner of Jonker Street. Although we reach there around 9.15am, but there already crowded of customer. we have to line up outside the gate. We order the chicken rice for 6 pax and some drink, total RM42.

After enjoy the famous chicken rice, we went to opposite shop, San Shu Gong to get some dessert - Durian Cendol, RM5.80 per bowl. Next, Dataran Pahlawan, Nadeje Patisserie, famous crepe layered cake. Some people purposely traveled 2 1/2 hour to Malacca just for the cake. RM8.50 per slice. we have order green tea flavoured mille crepe and Chocolate mille crepe. The working hour is start from 11am, but around 10.30am we have reach there, so have to take away the order. We meet Shuh yin there and depart to Wee Tat Convo.

We have lost our way when going to UTEM. Luckily Shuh Yin have asked her friend and at last found the way. It takes around 1 hour to reach there.

It is the time to have lunch... we searching for Nyonya food after Wee Tat convo but unfortunately we cant find anyone restaurant that business on 3.30pm... all just start business at 6pm.. so we miss the chance to try Nyonya Food. Sueyin have suggest to eat at Bei Zhan Restaurant, one of the famous restaurant in Melaka Raya, but not business yet also. At last, we went to "Bukit China Soya Bean Melaka Cafe", It just few more shop besides the Bei Zhan. They serves 20 versions of Tau Fu Fah and 100 types of dishes. Quite special flavour and reasonable prices for the dishes.

Around 5.30pm, we decided to go back home... sweet sweet home.. THE END~~~ ^.^

Lepok Falls 04/07/10

For a close encounter with the nature trekking of Selangor, don’t miss out the Lepok Falls which is located at Hulu Langat. I would like to gives the highest rating of this nature trekking that I had been through so far. It was challenging nature trails, we are going uphill all the time and the walkway is slippery since it was raining last night, muddy patches all along the trails make us even difficult to hike. It takes about 1 hour from the starting point to reach the upstream waterfall (about 4 km) with a 350 meter gain in altitude.

Participants for this trip would be me, Y.sai, K.Wee, Maggie, Jensen and Hui Ling. We started our journey by 7.30 am from Klang, where we are using federal highway to meet Jensen at TN building. Lepok falls is located nearby Gunung nuang , after passing by Kampung Pangsun, you will see a signboard , and turn left to reach the lepok fall. So, we are heading through the Cheras ,and Semenyir by using Federal Highway. At Semenyir, follow the Kampung Pangsun and Gunung Nuang sign board in order to get to the entrance for Lepok Falls.

The journey started with crossing the water stream via bridge which is made of wood, the bridge seems not so rigid, and could be fall down in anytime. After this, it will be a ascending jungle trails accompany with trees, grasses and scrubs. Nice weather today, the track is clear, it was a pleasant trekking; whereby we are able to get through the forest trails without any distraction (Probably because we are being well trained??)Along the journey, we had passed through the Durian orchard and bamboo forest; don’t take any sidewalk where it will bring you lost. There are plenty of durian trees above us, do these durians will fall right on our head? We are joking along the way.

We are so fortunate to receive a durian given by local people there, thanks to him for his kindness; we are able to taste an ordinary durian produced from Lepok falls. Everything was goes accordingly up to here, we are able to expedite our paces to the waterfall. Well, I could only can said that it just a peace before the great disaster!!

After passing through the Durian orchard, you will reached a water pipeline which lead to water catchment basin, this is a landmark to indicates that you are on the right way. Start from here, the track will be more and more challenging as such we need to go up the steep hillside; it will be ascending all the times. There are lots of fallen trees along the track whereby we need to scramble up to pass through. The muddy patches increase the difficulty for us to hike, it was really slippery, and we have to grab the tree sticks or any plants around us to balance our self. Furthermore, aerating tree roots increases the chances for us to fall down as well.

An unexpected raining started pouring on us, we are still on the way to climb up, and the track was become more slippery now , we were fall down several times due to that reason , luckily we had brought raincoat, at least we can covered up our self from getting dirt. When we reached the narrow pathway along the hillside. Me and Maggie were alienated from Y.sai, K.wee ,jtsun and Hui Ling, we are being up front and decided to have a rest at the disused hut. Whereby, K.wee and Y.sai have to help up Jensen and Hui Ling which is climbing up with slow paces. :)

Several minutes time, we had met at disused hut and decided to continue our journey when rain stop. We are all exhausted, tired. Jensen comes with half naked , I thought he had lost his shirt along the track, after a while only realized Hui Ling was wearing on it; Well, you are the man, dude.

We are continued our journey after rain, it takes about 10 minutes from the hut to the upstream waterfall. The waterfall is nice, wild cascading of water linger with crude forest. We do enjoy with natural breeze here and can’t wait to immerse our self into the water. The water was cool, probably because after raining, we stayed here for 1 hour before get back.

Along the way back, it was even difficult than climbing up, we are struggling to balance our self with the slippery pathways, and keep on sliding when going down to the descending hill side. Instead of saying that we are hiking, it better to say that we are “sliding” along the way back.

This could be the toughest ever natural trekking for us as compare with previous. It was a good way to train our stamina and trekking skills as well. Besides, we are lack of preparation and awareness for the circumstances where the raining fallen, I think after this trip hope that we will keep improve on it and bring the necessary items needed in case of any circumstances.