According to another one of our extensive research (2mins on Wikipedia), it is one of the oldest surviving European structure in Asia. Once a fortress built by the Portuguese, the gate is the only remaining structure now.
Around the A Famosa aka Porta De Santiago
This video shows the A Famosa up close and if you listen closely, you can also hear a tune resembling “My Heart Will Go On”.
No…you are not hearing things. It’s simply because there’s a violin player playing within the gates.
At the end of this video, you can also see a flight of red stairs that leads up the hill. This will bring you to St. Paul’s Church.
You can read more of our whining when you read that post…
Please dont make the same mistake that we made when we visited St. Paul’s Church in Malacca…
The mistake was this…
According to google map, St. Paul’s Church is actually just a short walk from Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, just across the road right?
WRONG! There is actually a climb up the hill from A Famosa (aka Porta De Santiago). It’s a climb with many steps at that!
So now we all know google maps dont include depth/height for its maps…
But back to our story.
St. Paul’s Church Melaka was built in 1521 and refurbished in 1566.
Interior of St. Paul’s Church Malacca
Video Tour inside St. Paul’s Church
Today, it is a much visited tourist attraction in Malacca and is part of the Malacca Museum Complex which includes A Famosa (aka Porta de Santiago) as well as the Stadhuys.
Front View of St. Paul’s Church Melaka
Another interesting story about the St. Paul’s Church is that it was actually a temporary burial site for Francis Xavier, a pioneering catholic missionary who was active in southeast asia during those times.
According to legend, he died out at sea but before he died, he told the sailors that he wanted to be buried in Goa India. So before his body was shifted to Goa, St. Paul’s Church was the temporary burial site for about 9 months.
To commemorate Francis Xavier, a statue of him was erected and it stands just outside of St. Paul’s Church overlooking the sea…
Francis Xavier’s Statue at St. Paul’s Church Melaka
Views from St. Paul’s Church
View of the Menara Taming Sari from St. Paul’s Church“Treacherous” Climb down from St. Paul’s Church
So if you ever visit St. Paul’s Church. Dont be mistaken that it is actually “just beside” A Formosa. Well…actually it is but after climbing those stairs!
You’ve been warned…
How to St Paul’s Church Melaka
If you take a look at the map above again. The walk is pretty straight forward if you stay at the Hotel Equatorial Melaka.
Across the street from Hotel Equatorial is the Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall. If you follow it all the way through (either on the inside to avoid the sun in the day or on the outside to have some fresh air) you will arrive at the food court.
Take a walk out of the food court and up the stairs. You will then arrive at the A Famosa.
Walk through the gate and up those stairs and tada, you arrive at St. Paul’s Church Melaka!
There are so many things to do at Jonker Street! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in Jonker Street Malacca! If you have read our last few posts, there are actually many things to do here at Jonker Street (aka Jonker Walk)…
Jonker Street Melaka
Well, in this post, we are going highlight our top 3 things to do at Jonker Street!
Malacca is of course famous for its chicken rice balls. There are so many of them in Malacca, so which one do you go for?
Fret not! 2bearbear.com has tasted the top 2 rated malacca chicken rice ball stalls to give you the lowdown on Hoe Kee and Chung Wah.
Once you have tasted them, why not leave a comment below to tell us all what you think about it?
2. Try out baba/nonya dishes and desserts at Jonker 88.
Interior of Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Malacca is all about food isnt it? Yet another foodie thing to do on this street is to makan at Jonker 88. If you’re the type who just want to try the street kinda nonya/baba food, you’ll find them right here.
The desserts are also hot sellers here. From afar, if you see a queue, it’s quite likely that the queue’s at Jonker 88.
3. Enjoy the night market!
Jonker Street Melaka
When night descends upon Jonker Street, stalls come out to play! At about 6pm, hawker stalls and stalls selling all sorts of things are seen along Jonker Street.
From afar you should be able to hear the “kok kok” candy man who is separating malted sugar (with peanuts) using his tools, effecting the familiar “kok kok” sound.
Then there are stalls selling mee sua (a type of vermicelli) which Malacca is famous for. We’ve bought some and they’re really good and dont “disintegrate” like most other brands.
You can also choose to just chillax at Geographer cafe – a pub that also serves up local delights. The drinks are rather expensive but a small pint wont do much harm right?
Geographer Cafe Jonker Street MelakaInterior of Geographer Cafe Jonker Street Melaka
Of course there are street foods that you should savour as well. On this occasion, we saved our tummy for Fried Oyster aka Orh Lua!
We’ve even asked permission from Aunty to take a video on how to make fried oysters!
How to make fried oysters
You can see that we actually strafe left to avoid the smoke coming from the fried oysters. The wind was blowing in our direction!
But still, the whole process was captured and here is the final product…
One of the must visit stalls at Jonker Street has got to be Jonker 88!
Interior of Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Jonker 88 features many local nonya food as well as yummy desserts!
Menu for Nonya Baba Delights @ Jonker 88 , Jonker StreetJonker 88 Dessert Menu
Having determined the winner of the battle of the Malacca Chicken Rice Ball, Kate and I were now too full to go on to the mains. Hence, we went straight for the dessert corner and ordered the famous durian chendol as well as the sago gula melaka…
Durian Chendol @ Jonker 88Sago Gula Melaka @ Jonker 88
Although we were very full, we slurped every bit of the 2 desserts! The gula melaka (not suitable for diabetics, confirmed plus chop plus double confirm) was sweet (fei hua) but had a nice cooked sugary taste to it.
Also, we regretted not filming the shifu when she put on the gula melaka…it was with such skill! One scoop one kill in one fast paced motion!
How to get there
Jonker 88 is located in the middle of Jonker street. One key indicator is the long queue in front of it, especially on the dessert side.
But we must say that the sago gula melaka and durian chendol were worth the wait!
Have you tried the nonya/baba food that Kate and I didnt have the space to stomach? If so, share with us in the comments section!
Related posts
This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
One of the most prominent attractions in Melaka has got the be the Stadhuys (sometimes spelt as Stadthuys). In Dutch, it basically means the city hall or town hall and used to be the administrative centre during the dutch colonial times.
Stadhuys Melaka
The Stadhuys (also known as Dutch Square) is home to the oldest Protestant Church in Malaysia – Christ Church Melaka
Trishaw Rides at Stadhuys / Christ Church Melaka
Not only so, it is home to the Museum of History and Ethnography right at the edge of the square where the trishaws gather. Speaking of trishaws, Kate and I took a ride on one of the trishaws right here at Stadhuys! Here’s a video of the beautifully decorated trishaws…
Trishaws at Stadhuys
The Stadhuys is arguably one of the oldest architecture from the dutch colonial times. That is why there are so many tourists here! But beware (you tourists-to-be)! As far as possible, try not to buy your souvenirs from the rows of shops there. We bought a sleeping mask (one of those you wear on the plane to sleep) for 5MYR (Ringgit) but we realised that the same mask could be bought for 3MYR at Jonker street!
Not much in terms of SGD you may say…but it is still a 40% difference! :O
The Stadhuys is really quite a small square but there are nice photo spots. These include photos with the fountain, Christ Church Melaka as well as the beautifully decorated trishaws!
Fountain at Stadhuys Melaka
Of course a far more high tech and better fountain show at be found at the Bellagio Fountains.But we digress…
To end of this post, enjoy this 360 degrees view of the Stadhuys (Red Square) done by Kate, our in-house photographer and videographer!
Yup…we all know who to look for if we feel “blair-witched”!
How to get there
Stadhuys is located Laksamana Road and if you follow our well drawn map of Melaka…
It is right beside Jonker Street and a short walk from the St. Paul’s Church
Related posts
This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
Of these, Holiday Inn Melaka has the newest and best features of these hotels because it is the latest collection in the Melaka 5 stars hotel arena.
However, its location puts it behind Renaissance Melaka and Hotel Equatorial Melaka. (This is when you consider attractions to be centralised near Stadhuys and Christ Church).
So this leaves us with Renaissance Melaka as well as Hotel Equatorial to vie for the best 5 star hotel in Melaka.
We can see that Hotel Equatorial is a short walking distance from St. Francis Church and thus Stadhuys. Also, according to our 2 min google, it was found that Renaissance Melaka is almost the same walking distance to the north.
Hence, both Hotel Equatorial Melaka and Renaissance Melaka are neck in neck at this point. The 2 factors that should determine your choice are thus
1. Style/Class/Newer. If you’re looking for a hotel with more class, style and is newer, Renaissance Melaka would be your choice.
2. Price. However, if you are looking at the cheapest of the 5 stars like us, the winner is clear, Hotel Equatorial Melaka! Plus, while we were there, there was a 88RM F&B credit for each night of stay!
Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Here’s a look at our room and the view it offers at Hotel Equatorial
Bed of Hotel Equatorial MelakaTV Console Hotel Equatorial MelakaWardrobe Hotel Equatorial Melaka Bathroom Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Not only that, we were kindly given the option to choose our room. The receptionist gave us a card to one of the rooms to see if we were satisfied with the room before allocating it to us!
Here are the views from our room
Round about in front of Hotel Equatorial MelakaView of Melaka Menara Taming Sari from Hotel Equatorial Melaka
The hotel also had a relatively big swimming pool that interconnects the various pools…
View of the swimming pool @ Hotel Equatorial MelakaView of the adult pool @ Hotel Equatorial MelakaView of the pool as you walk out of the lift lobby
Another reason why Hotel Equatorial Melaka trumps Renaissance Hotel is because it is RIGHT BESIDE the Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall! There’s lots of shopping, makan and even a cinema!
Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall beside Hotel Equatorial Melaka
So here’s a recap why Hotel Equatorial Melaka is the best 5 stars hotel in Melaka (compared to Renaissance Hotel and Holiday Inn Melaka)
1. Location. Near to all Melaka Tourism Attractions!
2. Price. Cheapest of the three 5 stars Hotel
3. Shopping. RIGHT Beside Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall
4. Nice Swimming Pool
5. Excellent Views!
All in all, we were thoroughly satisfied with our stay and we’ll leave you with a panoramic view from the balcony of the hotel!
View from the Balcony of Hotel Equatorial
Key of our room at Hotel Equatorial MelakaBad Traffic Jams in Melaka
Related posts
This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
Whenever you visit Malacca, a visit to Jonker street is a must.
Why?
There is the night market, little shops with souvenirs and unique items on the side of the streets, street food and delicacies.
Jonker Street Melaka
But one thing remains a mystery to most visitors to Jonker Street…
Which chicken rice ball stall is better? Chung Wah chicken rice ball at the start of Jonker street or the nicer looking Hoe Kee chicken rice ball in the middle of the street?
2bearbear.com has taken upon ourselves (and our tummies) to once and for all, clear this mystery for all our readers.
Let’s have some applause please…(*clap clap clap*)
Right…but first we must warn our readers as well.
DO NOT EAT AT A FORMOSA CHICKEN RICE! NO!!!!!!!! (echoes disappearing into the abyss…)
Ok…we shall leave it at that.
Moving on. We first visited Chung Wah Chicken Rice
Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball @ Start of Jonker Street
Chung Wah Chicken Rice @ Start of Jonker Street
Please recognise this picture. Although it says “Kedai Kopi Chung Wah”, but it really is a coffee shop that sells only one thing, CHICKEN RICE! and drinks of course.
Plus, the chicken rice at Chung Wah usually sells out at about 3-4pm. Be there earlier to avoid disappointment. For us, we were there at about 3:30pm.
We were lucky.
Minutes after we sat down, the metal gates were closed (with the rest of the diners still inside of course, not that they’re gonna kidnap us or something)
The next thing we realised was that the aunty immediately asked us if we wanted half a chicken and 1 set of rice balls each. HALF A CHICKEN FOR 2 PERSONS?! Being the first time there, we nodded.
This means that either:
1. Most people who went to Chung Wah were REALLY hungry. OR
2. After sizing Tom up, aunty decided that it has got to be half a chicken for us.
The portion of the half chicken was what we expected it to be. However, if the 2 of you are feeling really peckish, half a chicken is just right. Aunty was right after all.
Taste Test
The chicken at Chung Wah has a fragrance of sesame oil to it and when you try to decipher the sauce…you’ll realise one voice in your head going
“Hey, I know this taste!” while the other voice in your head goes
“No, you dont!” This goes back and forth, forcing you to dip the sauce on your spoon to try it over and over again.
The thing is, the sauce is unique. It has some excellent proportion of spices, sesame oil and soya sauce to it that makes it special.
Next comes the chicken.
Tender and firm at the right places. Kinda oxymoron right? The texture of the chicken was good. Keeps you coming back for more.
So what about the rice?
The thing that we did not get quite used to about chicken rice ball is that, IT’S COLD!
Eating chicken rice cold…that’s something really different. Guess they need to cool it or allow it to cool before the ball takes shape.
However, we did not really like the rice ball, simply because it lacked the fragrance that chicken rice ought to have. The saving grace was that, pairing with the chicken was a great combination…
The half chicken at Chung Wah (with 10 balls) costs RM19.70.
As for deco, it really was like a coffee shop but the old kind? Allows you to feel the ambience somewhat like that of the 70s.
Next, we headed off to Hoe Kee Chicken Rice (not immediately, but almost, because of our keen interest to solve the chicken rice ball mystery at Jonker street once and for all!!)
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Ball @ Middle of Jonker Street
Outside of Hoe Kee Chicken Rice @ Middle of Jonker StreetInterior of the entrance to Hoe Kee Chicken RiceCourtyard of Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
The first impression of Hoe Kee was more of
“Wow, classy chinese interior design!”
This is definitely a great place to bring your friends to for a nice meal of local food. A great place to entertain and meet up with your guests as well.
“How about the food?” You might ask.
Quarter Chicken at Hoe Kee Chicken RiceCondiments with Herbal Tea and Soya BeanHoe Kee Chicken Rice Balls
Taste Test
The chicken at Hoe Kee was normal. Really nothing much to shout about here. Dont guess us wrong, it was a decent plate of chicken. Meat was fresh but taste was not as memorable and lasting as that of Chung Wah.
However, the rice did trump Chung Wah’s in that there was the chicken rice fragrance that one craved. The coldness was still there but the taste was much better.
The quarter chicken at Hoe Kee (with 5 balls, Soya Bean and Herbal Tea) costs RM14.20
Verdict
Now, to put the mystery of the Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball Battle behind us…
2bearbear.com declares the winner of the “Battle of the Malacca Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball” to be…(*Drumrolls*)
Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball!
Well, the chicken basically won the war for Chung Wah. Although they lost in the chicken rice ball department, the unique sauce was more than able to make up for this loss.
And did we mention that the chilli packed a punch at Chung Wah’s?
Nonetheless, in terms of ambience, Hoe Kee won hands down and if a gathering with friends and family is your focus, Hoe Kee is the place to go.
For great taste, you cant go wrong with Chung Wah.
We hope that with this post, we can finally put this age-old mystery of “which Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball is better” to rest!
P.S. We also realised that traditional chicken rice beats rice balls hands down. It’s just unique and fashionable but you just cant beat that old fashioned plate of chicken rice hot off the cooker.
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Remember to leave your comments for 2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog in our comments section below!
Following the huge success of the premium outlets franchise, Malaysia opens its own premium outlet in Johor.
Named Johor Premium Outlets or JPO in short, the outlet mall boasts of 80 designer and premium brands at factory outlet prices. Discounts can range from 25% to 65% everyday.
Getting there
Johor Premium Outlets is just a short drive 1 hour drive from Singapore. From the north south highway, take an exit at Exit 253 and follow brown coloured signs that says “Johor Premium Outlets”. It’s quite hard to miss.
After all the hype that Johor Premium Outlets (JPO Malaysia) has garnered in Singapore, Kate and I decided to drop by JPO to take a look. As we have been to the largest premium outlet, Woodbury Common Premium Outlet it provides us with a basis for comparison.
Entrance to Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Entrance to Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
At first glance, the look and feel of Johor Premium Outlets (JPO Malaysia) resembles that of Woodbury Common Premium Outlet. As we entered the entrance of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, we did something that would put all shoppers to shame…
Food court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Food court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
We visited the food court first!
Court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO Malaysia
Claypot Chicken Rice at Food Court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO Malaysia
After having our fill of the Claypot Chicken Rice (can give this one a miss) and taking a photo of the food court for our readers…
Internal view of Food court at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Internal view of Food court at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
We headed to the information office to get the most important thing, the map of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia!
Map of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Map of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
With the map, we can ensure that we cover every square inch of the JPO! After taking a look at the map, we realise that it is actually quite a small outlet mall. There are basically 2 rows of shops for 2 levels and that’s pretty much about it.
In order to discover the best discounts here at Johor Premium Outlets, Kate and I made sure we visited almost every single shop at JPO for our readers! Unfortunately, the sales are not half as good as Woodbury Premium Outlets. Eventhough there were long queues at Johor Premium Outlets such as this one at Coach,
Long Queue outside Coach Outlet at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Long Queue outside Coach Outlet at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
There werent really many buyers…
Not many people carrying shopping bags from Johor Premium Outlets stores
Not many people carrying shopping bags from Johor Premium Outlets stores
The truth is, once you have been to Woodbury Premium Outlet, you’ll realise that all other discounts are not really that fantastic. However, the bright spot here is that compared to retail prices, Johor Premium Outlets JPO does offer substantial discounts. Which is why we bought a pair of shoes eventually.
After a long day at “work”, trawling through the sales at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Kate and I rewarded ourselves at Taang Shifu (translated as Master of Soups)
Taang Shifu @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Taang Shifu @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
In order to get a 10% discount at Taang Shifu, remember to flash your Maybank credit card at the information store to get the VIP discount booklet (more like “pamphlet”). The 10% discount is only for ala carte items. We had the abalone mee sua as well as the double boiled pear dessert…
Abalone Mee Sua @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Abalone Mee Sua @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Double Boiled Pear Dessert @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Double Boiled Pear Dessert @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
After discount, the 2 items only cost about $25RM which was quite cheap considering it was a chinese restaurant. Plus, they tasted good as well!
After covering the second level, we decided to treat ourselves to crepes
Crispy Crepes @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Crispy Crepes @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
There was a super long queue at crispy crepes, primarily because of its cheap price at $5.20RM for sweet crepes AND $6.30RM for savoury crepes.
Making of crispy crepes at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Making of crispy crepes at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
We decided to go for the chicken floss as well as the chocolate banana…
Chicken Floss Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Chicken Floss Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Chocolate Banana Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Chocolate Banana Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
The crepes were super duper crispy! You can feel it and hear it as you land each bite on your crepes. No wonder the queue was so loooooong…
We have also captured a video of the entrance of Johor Premium Outlets, Malaysia just for our readers…
Entrance of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Verdict
After all the hype about the Malaysia Premium Outlets, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, we must say truthfully that we do agree with most comments online that the sales and discounts are really not that fantastic.
Having said that, we do think that the Johor Premium Outlets JPO can be a good place to spend the weekend to shop and source for great deals. Kids can be “deposited” at the play ground and fed with yummy crispy crepes while parents shop for what they want.
If you have something that you would like to buy in the city, why not hold that thought and give Johor Premium Outlets JPO a go instead? You can be assured that it is at least 25% cheaper than retail prices. 🙂
So yup, our conclusion is that Johor Premium Outlets JPO is still worth a visit afterall!
Finally, Kate and I got to board the Singapore Flyer! It is currently the world’s largest giant observation wheel standing at a height of 165m!
We are so proud to have finally “flew” on the Singapore Flyer and I must applaud Kate for the courage of taking the flight because of her fear of heights and general dislike for thrill rides (see Busch Gardens and Universal Studios Singapore post)
Before we begin, we know that visitors would like to know the price and opening hours of the Singapore Flyer…
Opening Hours : 8:30am – 10:30pm (With the last admission at 10:15pm) Ticket Sales : 8:00am – 10:00pm
Ticket Prices
Adults (13 yrs and above) : $29.50
Children (3-12 yrs) : $20.65(Children below 3yrs : Free)
Senior Citizens (60 yrs and above): $23.60 (Singaporeans/PR)
Getting There
Of course, the most straight forward way is to call a cab and tell the cabby to take you to “Singapore Flyer”.
There are also buses where you will need to alight at Temasek Avenue. The buses are 106, 111, 133.
But we prefer the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). You have basically 2 options. The first is to alight at Promenade MRT Station which is just a 5 minutes walk from the Singapore Flyer.
We prefer option 2 though. And on this trip, we took this option and really enjoyed the walk. Taking this option meant that you would alight at City Hall Interchange and walk along City Link Mall, cross over to Esplanade and walk along the River Front. This is about a 20 minutes walk…but along the way, you will enjoy these views…
View of the Singapore City Skyline @ Marina Bay
View of the Singapore City Skyline @ Marina Bay
To allow our readers to see the benefits of this walk to the Singapore Flyer, here is a video of the views of Marina Bay…
As seen in the video, you would be able to take pictures of the Marina Bay Sands, Artscience Museum, Helix Bridge, Singapore City Skyline, Fullerton Hotel as well as the Singapore Tourism Icon – The Merlion!
After this nice leisurely walk, we were greeted by the Singapore Flyer…
The Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer
We got our tickets in advance and headed straight to the entrance of the Singapore Flyer. There are scans as you enter so it may take some time during peak hours (i.e. sunset, school holidays, morning tour groups).
You would first be led into the Journey of Dreams. The Journey of Dreams is inclusive in the ticket price of the Singapore Flyer and it is basically a series of exhibits and multimedia interactives that allow visitors to know more about the Singapore Story as well as the Singapore Flyer itself…
3D Map of the Singapore Flyer and its vicinity
3D Map of the Singapore Flyer and its vicinity
Did you know that so many parts of Singapore is actually reclaimed land (Those in green are reclaimed land)
Did you know that so many parts of Singapore is actually reclaimed land? (Those in green are reclaimed land)
Fragment of Dreams – Use the “torch” and reveal portions of the screen!
Fragment of Dreams – Use the “torch” and reveal portions of the screen!
Reservoir of Dreams at the Singapore Flyer
Reservoir of Dreams
At the Reservoir of Dreams, you will see 3 giant spheres that are basically artistic displays. The first one is Oneiroi’s Orb that depicts the Flyer’s spherical shape through circular artifacts. The next is The Planet which is the first inflated PufferSphere using internal projection in Asia…
Description of the Planet @ Singapore Flyer
Description of the Planet @ Singapore Flyer
The Planet @ Singapore Flyer
The last is the Numeric that displays all numbers (Facts, Figures, Physique) associated with the Singapore Flyer.
After the Journey of Dreams, you would enter a tunnel that has numbers on the side that blinks 5,4,3,2,1 that is somewhat like astronauts entering the tunnel to their space flight with the numbers signifying the countdown to blast off!
As you approach the capsules, please note the curvature of the platform so that you wouldnt trip and fall. Recently, a dad did not hold on to his stroller and the kid was caught by the safety net…
The other thing you would notice is that smaller wheels (like tyres) that are used to rotate the Singapore Flyer itself. This is the mechanism used to turn the larger wheel (Singapore Flyer) using smaller wheels (tyres)…
Mechanism of turning the Singapore Flyer
Mechanism of turning the Singapore Flyer
Though it is not really clear, but you can also vaguely see the demonstration of the smaller wheels turning the Singapore Flyer here in this video…
Mechanism of turning the Singapore Flyer
You can also at this moment, opt to board a flyer with lesser people, but it really depends on the people who are enjoying the Journey of Dreams. If they stay there and you let the passengers behind you board first, you might just have a whole capsule of the Singapore Flyer to yourself! In our case, we shared with 2 others which was very enjoyable and private 🙂
At the top of the Singapore Flyer, you will enjoy basically 2 views…to the east, the shipping lanes and ALOT of HDB flats (HDB flats are Singapore’s public housing) and to the west, the Marina Barrage, Marina Bay Sands, parts of the port. And of course, a breath-taking view of the Marina Bay itself…
Residential Buildings to the East
Residential Buildings to the East
Marina Bay Sands seen from the Singapore Flyer
Marina Bay Sands
Shipping lanes and Gardens by the Bay
Breath-Taking Views of Marina Bay Singapore
Breath-Taking Views of Marina Bay Singapore
An Artistic Shot of the Singapore Flyer Capsule
An Artistic Shot of the Singapore Flyer Capsule
We’ve also captured a 360degrees view from the top of the Singapore Flyer for our readers…
360degrees view from the Top of the Singapore Flyer
We were also able to see the aerial view of the marina bay where the wishes of Singaporeans are written on round inflated balls and lined up in the waters. Still cant figure out what it is meant to shape like though…(The island of Singapore maybe?)
After the flight, remember to disembark with care as there is curvature of the platform that you would need to look out for.
Kate and I then proceeded to the Singapore Food Trails for a sumptuous meal!
Singapore Food Trail at the Singapore Flyer
Singapore Food Trail
The Singapore Food Trail is actually a project undertaken by the Singapore Tourism Board to recreate the old street food hawkers of the 1960s…
Stalls at the Singapore Food Trail
Stalls at the Singapore Food Trail
Alot of effort (and money) have been placed into recreating the feel of the 1960s. The design of the stalls, the furniture and even the floor (made of tarmac to represent the road) have been meticulously thought through.
The best part about the Singapore Food Trails is its food!! It has a collection of some of the best hawker foods in Singapore! What’s more, the price is still within the acceptable range (though it is of course cheaper at the food centres)! Given that you just have to go to one destination to taste all the best hawker food in Singapore, the price is really well worth it. Today, we tried the following…
Drinks from authentic chinese cups of the 60s
Drinks from authentic chinese cups of the 60s
Fried Hokkien Mee at Singapore Food Trail Singapore Flyer
Satay Beehoon from Singapore Food Trail at the Singapore Flyer
Satay Beehoon
Orh Lua (or Fried Oysters) Singapore Food Trail at the Singapore Flyer
Orh Lua (or Fried Oysters)
During this festive season, if you ride on the Singapore Flyer, you can also enter this snow dome to take some pictures with Santa!
Life Size Snow Dome
Snow Dome
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the Singapore Flyer and all it has to offer! The views were splendid and the ride was enjoyable! Remember to pop by the Singapore Food Trail when you’re there, you’ll enjoy it as well!
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Saizeriya is a Japanese owned Italian-styled family restaurant.
No wonder it seemed so familiar when we first saw its sign from a distance away. The green and red colours of the logos immediately reminded us of the same chain of restaurants we saw in Japan…Now Saizeriya has hit our shores in Singapore as well!
The thing we love about Saizeriya is its price! It is truly a family oriented restaurant with budget of the family as its priority. Pastas, pizzas and dorias average about $8 and there are some that go as low as $4-5 bucks!
There are also lots of sides for the family to choose from, such as the chicken wings and escargots
Popular Saizeriya Chicken Wings
Popular Saizeriya Chicken Wings
This Saizeriya we went to is located at Liang Court. It is usually crowded during meal times but the crowd clears very quickly because of its no frills eat-and-beat-it concept.
Saizeriya has recently installed a new system that allows customers to call for the waiter/waitress when they’re ready to order…
System to call for service
System to call for service
Much like the bell you use onboard planes or for that matter in hospitals, once you press the bell, a ring tone would be heard and your table number flashed on a board, informing the waiter that you are calling for them. This system of course makes it more efficient but it can get kind of irritating sometimes. But, the cheap and good food more than make up for any discomfort of this sort 🙂
A quick look at the menu…
Saizeriya Menu
Saizeriya Menu
We ordered the pork and beef meal as well as a spinach pizza ($7.90 nett for the pizza). We also ordered a pasta as well as the wings (we really cant remember the rest of the prices but rest assured they are competitively priced).
Pork and Beef Meal
Pork and Beef Meal
Spinach Pizza Saizeriya Singapore
Spinach Pizza
Pasta Saizeriya Singapore
Pasta
We thoroughly enjoyed the meats, pasta and pizza. Though the pasta may look simple, it was full of flavour and the texture of the pasta was perfect! Not overcooked and still slightly springy (QQ as the chinese would say) in texture. Yum!
The pizza was also overlayed with generous portions of the spinach! The meats were again generous and juicy, not dried unlike some restaurants.
The highlight of eating at Saizeriya has got to be its drink bar where you can have coffee, milo, juice and other soft drinks, FREE FLOW for around $3! Hence, it is a good place for friends to have a meal and catch up over a cup of coffee (or many cups for that matter) without burning a hole in the pocket.
Drink Bar in Saizeriya
Drink Bar in Saizeriya
Overall, Saizeriya definitely rates highly for price and serving portions. The food at Saizeriya can be considered cheap for a restaurant, yet the portion and standard it delivers is comparable or much better than most other restaurants! Whats more, the price you see on the menu is the price you pay! Because there is no GST or Service Charge on top of the price you see on the menu, all prices are NETT prices!
The only setback would be that it could get rather noisy during peak hours. Other than that, Saizeriya is definitely a great place to hang out with friends or to have a no-frills meal with your loved ones!
Slice - The Pizza ReformKate and I stumbled upon a new chain of fast food named “Slice”. As the name suggests (and shown on the take away counter), the restaurant serves slices of pizza.
The concept is that pizzas are served in slices which allows customers the flexibility of choice in choosing their favourite flavours, in contrast to the more traditional pizza restaurants where you’ll have to order a whole round pizza.
Ambience
The restaurant has a trendy feel to it and features many revolutionary figures such as Ghandi and this famous “We want you” poster from WW2
Slice Poster
Other than that, it resembles most fast food restaurants which is the part that stands out. It resembles a fast food restaurant yet serving “slow food” such as pizzas.
Counter of Slice (Poor shot because of lousy camera – Any sponsors?)
Taste
Kate and I ordered 3 items off the menu (all 3 items were chef’s recommendations). The Cheese Steak…
Cheese Steak
The Cheese Steak (cant remember it’s actual name) is rich in mushroom and the beef has the traditional American beef taste that we enjoyed.
The Avocado Chicken…
Avocado Chicken
The Avocado was really fresh and had a tangy taste to it. It complimented the chicken and cheese really well to produce a good mix of flavours.
The Yummy Gummy Milkshake…
Yummy Gummy Milkshake
The yummy gummy was quite original in that real gummy bears were blended into the milkshake (“ouch” for the gummies) and produced a interesting blend of vanilla with sweetness, chewy”ness” and fruity”ness”.
Verdict
Overall, the pizzas did not disappoint. The portions were big and were priced competitively. We missed out on the soups because they were sold out. The only complaint was that the milkshake could be richer in taste.
Otherwise, the overall experience was great. Definitely a good place to hang out with friends over a great meal.
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Seriously, we did not know that the World Orchid Conference (WOC) was already into its 20th year but we were pleasantly surprised by the splendid showcase of orchids by various groups from all over the world…
20th World Orchid Conference (WOC)
Logo of the 20th World Orchid Conference WOC
At the entrance…
Wall to the entrance of 20th World Orchid Conference WOC
Tickets cost $15 for adults and $9 for senior citizens or students. There are also 10% discounts for ntuc, passion, safra (among the cards we can remember). The cost of this price also includes a preview of Gardens by the Bay, Flower Dome (an air conditioned indoor display of plants and vegetation) scheduled to open in 6 months time in 2012.
Ticket to 20th World Orchid Conference WOC (includes preview of Gardens by the Bay)
There is also complimentary shuttle bus service from Marina Bay MRT to Gardens by the Bay to the Marina Bay Sands, Sands Expo and Convention Centre (looping in that order)
Complimentary shuttle service from Marina Bay MRT to Gardens by the Bay to Marina Bay Sands , Sands Expo and Convention CentreEntrance to the 20th WOC World Orchid Conference at Marina Bay SandsMap of the 20th WOC (World Orchid Conference) at Marina Bay Sands
Before we start, perhaps we should learn more about orchids and its origin…
Parts of the OrchidWords in the gents…bet you didnt know about this!
Close to the entrance are the VIP orchids such as this named after Nelson Mandela
Orchid named after Nelson Mandela
and of course our national flower – The Vanda Miss Joaquim
Vanda Miss Joaquim at 20th WOC (World Orchid Conference)
The organisers have put in much effort to bring in different orchids and their hybrids from all over the world…
Orchids from all over the world at the 20th WOC (World Orchid Conference)
Unique orchids include…
5 petaled OrchidBrown OrchidsHybrid Pitcher Orchid PlantsOrchid that looks like a crib with a baby inside2 Petaled OrchidTriangular Shaped OrchidArty Farty Close Up Shot of really small Orchids
There are also displays from different societies and countries from all over the world such as
Orchid displays from IndonesiaOrchid Display from the UKOrchid displays from Malaysia
There were also real pitcher plants…
Real pitcher plants
a huge one at that…
Huge pitcher plant
as well as flower arrangements…
Orchid Bridal Hand Bouquets
the winner…
Winner of Orchid Bridal Hand BouquetWinning Flower ArrangementOther winners of flower arrangementAn appeal for aid to Japan
There are also displays for competition at the schools and junior levels…
Displays after the competitionOne of the winnersYet another winnerCute Theme
The standing categories…
Shaped like the flyerThe winner…
Some walkabout videos at the 20th WOC (World Orchid Conference) at the Marina Bay Sands, Sands Expo and Convention Centre…
Walk about Part 1
Walk about Part 2
Walk about Part 3
Revolving Petronas Tower
Gardens by the Bay
Next we headed to the Gardens by the Bay via the free shuttle service. The tickets to the WOC included a complimentary preview to the Gardens by the Bay! The shuttle bus came at a high frequency (i.e. short waiting time) at least during our wait. We waited for only about 5 minutes eventhough the expected waiting time was about 10-15 mins.
Map of the Gardens by the BayIconic Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay with Marina Bay Sands as the backdropIconic outer view of the Flower DomeEntrance to the Flower Dome
As we entered, we were awed by the huge strange looking trees and cactus. The temperature was quite cold (around 23 degrees). The temperature and humidity is strictly controlled in here for these vegetation and plants to flourish…
The Flower Dome is about 45 metres high and spans 1.2 hectares. The most eye catching plant in the Flower Dome has got to be the Baobabs. The bulbous trunks (looking like a prenant tree) helps the tree to store water during dry seasons. They are also known as bottle trees.
Throughout the Flower Dome, there are other gardens such as the Succulent Garden (mostly cacti), the Australian Garden, the South American Garden, Mediterranean Garden as well as the Olive Grove so do take time to check them out as well!
Another view from withinView of the trees with bulbous trunks that store waterView from the highest point in the flower dome
We were directed by the staff to make a loop to the highest point in the Flower Dome, before heading downstairs where the exit was. The overall feel was as if you had entered an enchanted garden. It was amazing to see Singapore having such an attraction!
Here are some videos from within for our readers…
Preview of Gardens by the Bay Part 1
Preview of Gardens by the Bay Part 2
Preview of Gardens by the Bay Part 3
Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Helix Bridge
Before we left the Marina Bay area altogether, we took some shots at the Shoppes as well as the Helix Bridge overlooking the Marina Bay…Enjoy!
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
View of the Marina Bay from Helix Bridge Part 1
View of the Marina Bay from Helix Bridge Part 2 (The other end of the bridge)
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the 20th WOC as well as the Gardens by the Bay. The organisers have indeed put in alot of effort to make it all happen and here at 2bearbear.com we would like to congratulate them for a job well done!
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the 20th WOC World Orchid Conference!
There are so many things to do and attractions at Kota Kinabalu! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in Kota Kinabalu! We thoroughly enjoyed the weekend stay there! Attractions range from Island hopping, getting close to nature or even really really good shopping!
Kate and I managed to accumulate enough Krisflyer points in exchange for 2 tickets to Kota Kinabalu. Quite worth it to join the programme. For this particular trip, we flew on Silkair…
After a 2hrs 20 mins flight, we arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport which looked quite new. From the airport, we took a taxi to Novotel. The taxi was $50RM and it is a fixed price. You will have to purchase a ticket from a shop within the terminal. The good thing is that it is a standard price and you save all the haggling that may be needed for “rogue” taxis.
Again, Kate was the one who arranged the entire trip. It is important to anchor a good location of your hotel so that will be the base where all your activities start. Kate found a relatively good deal on Klook where we stayed at the Novotel @ 1 Borneo Kota Kinabalu for only $70SGD per night.
The good thing about staying at the Novotel is that
1. 4 Star Hotel. It is smelly smelly (hokkien for at least) a 4-star hotel at an attractive rate, offering full hotel service and even a swimming pool for you to chillax under the sun.
2. Close to attractions. It is located away from the city but in the middle of the route to Mount Kinabalu, something that must NOT be missed when you visit Kota Kinabalu. Hence, it is a good location as a base for the attractions, yet still within a 20 mins travel time from the city.
3. Shopping. Located beside One Borneo (nowadays there are alot of One something something sprouting after the One Malaysia concept was introduced), it is currently the largest shopping mall/centre in East Malaysia. Though in a couple of years, it will be overtaken by One Sulaman (yet another One)
4. Free Shuttle Service. This is one of the most important aspect to why Kate chose this location. With the free shuttle service to the city, we could get to and fro for free. The only catch is that you will have to register early for your bus ticket. Priority is also given to guests of hotels in and around One Borneo shopping mall.
Novotel
The hotel itself also exceeded our expectation.
External view of Novotel Kota Kinabalu
The room was spacious and even had a transparent glass that allowed guests to enjoy a bath and watch TV at the same time. For couples, this would be pretty romantic as well.
The King Size Bed Novotel Kota KinabaluTV Console and Fridge Novotel Kota KinabaluBathroom Novotel Kota KinabaluBathtub Novotel Kota KinabaluBusiness Desk Novotel Kota Kinabalu
The swimming pool was also very welcoming, with views of the Crocker Range. Crocker Range is essentially a series of hills. Though they may look tall, locals still regard them as hills.
Kids Pool Novotel Kota KinabaluSwimming pool with water feature that can do shoulder massages at Novotel Kota KinabaluView of Crocker Range from the Pool Kota Kinabalu Novotel
The next most important thing after checking out the room is to check out the bus timings!
Free shuttle bus timings from Novotel Kota Kinabalu
The area to wait for the shuttle bus is at the other end of the One Borneo shopping mall. You can ask for directions at the information counter. It is important to note that this timing is merely a gauge and should be confirmed with the personnel issuing the tickets as timings varies over weekends and weekdays.
Night Market
Known as Pasar Malam (Market Night) in malay, the night market offers locals an avenue to shop for their daily necessities and also to solve their hunger pangs as there are many stalls offering fried noodles, rice, simple malay hawker fare.
Night Market Kota Kinabalu
Our initial plan on the first night was to catch the sunset at the city. However, we were slightly late as there was a traffic jam on the way (remember to buffer time if you are catching the sunset). The sunset timing is more like 6pm than 7pm in Singapore. So bear that in mind.
We also enjoyed some chicken murtabak (indian fried dough with meat , or for those of you who knows prata, it is like prata with meat $2RM) and a refreshing chilled coconut ($4RM)…
Special Murtabak and Coconut from Kota Kinabalu Night Market
Back at the place where we dropped off (Warisan Square, opposite Waterfront) we caught the 9pm bus back to the hotel…
Breakfast @ Novotel
Daily buffet breakfast is included at Novotel. The spread is more or less the same each day. However, they do cater to different tastes so most palates would be satisfied here.
Morning View of Crocker Range from Novotel Kota KinabaluThe buffet spread at Novotel Kota Kinabalu Breakfast
The spread includes noodles or rice, sausages, eggs, grilled tomatoes, baked beans, vegetables, nasi lemak and curry chicken. There are also pastries and breads with various spreads to choose from. Waffles, pancakes, cereals,porridge were available as well.
Appetisers at Kota Kinabalu Novotel Breakfast Buffet
At the appetisers corner, there were various juices such as guava, orange and apple juice to choose from. Milk and soya bean milk were available as well. Fruits and appetisers such as pasta salad, salami, smoked salmon were available on different days.
Overview of the breakfast restaurant at Novotel Kota Kinabalu
It is strongly recommended for visitors (2 or less) to take the tours. Each person costs $180-200 RM that includes, lunch, guided tour, return trip, mount kinabalu park, pekan nabalu (small village/town where you can get the best view of the mountain),poring hot springs,tree top walk,dr fish spa and nature trekking.
The package is a day tour that starts from 8am to 6pm (depending on traffic). Really well worth it we must say. It is also important to follow an experienced agency and in our case, we chose Exotic Borneo. They arranged our time to cover Kinabalu first knowing the local weather that it may drizzle or pour in the afternoon. True enough, it did!
Our first stop was Pekan Nabalu, a small town that has really sweet pineapples, souvenirs and of course, stunning views of the majestic Mount Kinabalu.
View of Mount KinabaluClose up view of Mount Kinabalu
Do not miss out on the pineapples. They cost $2RM a packet and is really as sweet as it gets, we thought perhaps they might have been dipped in sugar syrup! But of course not, it tasted naturally sweet. Enjoy!
The next stop we headed to was a private garden from the locals where we saw the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia!
The largest flower in the World – The Rafflesia
The thing about the Rafflesia is that it occurs naturally. Even when scientists wanted to cultivate them, they were unable to. It is a parasitic plant that feeds off the vine like a tumour. It also blooms only 4 to 6 weeks a year and you really have to be at the correct time to see them.
When the flower is in bloom, banners would be placed outside these private gardens and costs $30RM per visit. For this particular garden, we travelled about 5 minutes, crossing a small river before we got there.
“Treacherous” Journey to see the RafflesiaBlooming process of the Rafflesia explainedThe Rafflesia in bloom and its bud Kota KinabaluThe Rafflesia disintegrates after its bloom
Because of its rarity in bloom, the locals will protect the area around the Rafflesia to prevent wild animals from feeding on them. According to our guide, Andy, the flowers occurred naturally in abundance in the past. However, locals did not understand their uniqueness and importance in research. When the flowers were in the bud stage, they would kick them about like a soccer ball!
The flower also gives off a pungent smell, much like rotten meat. But this time we did not smell it, could be due to the wind direction. Still, if the flower is in bloom, do drop by a take a look. Helps in preservation by contributing to the locals, and also gives you an experience to enjoy the largest flower in bloom!
Poring Hot Springs
Next, we headed to Poring hot springs, of course, naturally occurring, where Kate enjoyed her book while dipping in the waters of the hot spring.
Tom on the other hand was given a tour by Andy on route to the Tree Top Walk.
Map of Poring Hot Springs Kota KinabaluOld bridge that linked to Poring hot springs in Kota KinabaluNew bridge (Concrete and not swaying) to Poring Hot Springs in Kota KinabaluPoring Hot Springs Kota Kinabalu where Kate dipped her feet and enjoyed a book
Kate complained about missing stoppers at the hot springs. So she had to “prey” on other visitors and as they left, Kate would “take over” their territory…
At the same time, Tom followed Andy on a little trek towards the tree top walk. It is quite steep at the beginning so make sure you anticipate this if you are going for the tree top walk.
Along the way, we saw these interesting parts of nature…
Can you see the spiderwebs galore?Ferns on top of a tree looking like an umbrella in Kota Kinabalu Forest
Huge Bamboos in Kota Kinabalu Forest
Possibly the World’s largest Ants!
Furry Caterpillars emerging from beneath the leaves
First Bridge at Tree Top Walk at Kota Kinabalu
We must first state upfront that the tree top walk is not for the faint of heart. Bridges are interconnected from TREE to TREE. The bridges also sway from side to side and for tall dudes like Tom, there’s a real possibility of falling over the side. What Tom did was to bend his knees while walking such that the netting would still be at the shoulder level.
Of course, at each stop of the tree walk, you would be greeted with amazing views such as this…
View from Tree Top Walk Kota Kinabalu“Winnie the Pooh Tree” in Kota Kinabalu
Andy told us that bees build their hives on top such trees because bears are not able to climb the trunk of these trees. The smooth surface do not provide the grip for the bears, thus giving safety to the bees. If you observe closely, it is like the tree in Winnie the Pooh!
Looking down from the tree top walk at Kota Kinabalu
To give our visitors a feel of the tree top walk, here it is…
“Death Defying” Tree Top Walk!
We ventured back to Poring Hot Springs to pick Kate and left for Kipungit Waterfall. The waterfall was about 400m high and had Dr Fish as its inhabitants! Free foot spa!! Yay!
Kipungit Waterfall Kota KinabaluDr Fish feeding off dead skin on Tom’s feet at Kota Kinabalu Kitpungit Waterfalls
From there, we took a half hour ride to Fair Garden Restaurant for lunch. The food was very good and portions were great for 2 people. Best of all, it was included in the package!
Fried Rice with Soup at Fair Garden Restaurant Kota KinabaluCrispy Chicken at Fair Garden Restaurant Kota KinabaluSweet and Sour Fish at Fair Garden Restaurant Kota Kinabalu
The food was definitely Chinese restaurant standard and there were also vegetables, fruits and Chinese Tea as well.
We then headed to the Botanical Gardens where we did the forest trail, the shortest one was Silau Silau Trail (to Bukit Tupai) that took us about 40 minutes. Kate and I enjoy such trails but according to Andy, most tourists dont take these trails.
Along the way, we saw what could possibly be the world’s smallest fern!
Possibly, the world’s smallest fern found at Kota Kinabalu
Andy then led us to this roadside stall that sells black pig (RM5), it was delicious especially with the home made sauce concocted by the owners…
Black Pig BBQ at Kota KinabaluThe BBQed Black Pig with Sauce at Kota Kinabalu- Yummy!
Thanks to Andy from Exotic Borneo, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!
At night, Kate and I caught Johnny English 2 for only RM9 each!
On Sundays, there is a large market being put up by the locals in the city. Known as the Gaya Market, it offers locals and tourists alike, an avenue to shop!
Gaya Sunday Market Kota Kinabalu
We took a video for our visitors to have a feel of the market itself. There was also a musician playing on the gong which we thought was interesting…
A walk through Gaya Market
Musician on Traditional Gong at Gaya Market
Nearby, we were told that Signal Hill offered a marvelous view of Kota Kinabalu City. The starting point was at the Atkinson Clock on the top right of this picture…
Gaya Market to Atkinson Clock Kota Kinabalu
After 15 minutes, we arrived at the Atkinson Clock…
The Atkinson Clock Kota KinabaluDirection to Signal Hill Observatory Kota Kinabalu
Following the road for another 5 minutes or so, we were greeted by this view…
View of Gaya Island from Signal Hill Observatory Kota KinabaluView of City from Signal Hill Observatory Kota Kinabalu
Breathtaking View from Signal Hill Observatory
After all that walking, Kate decided to reward herself with a foot reflexology at Suria Mall. It was only RM48 for 1 hour of foot reflexology and foot bath.
We then had lunch at the famous Kuo Man restaurant of the Suria foodcourt. The beef noodles was yummy. Noodles were Q (springy) and the beef was flavourful. The view of the islands from the food court was excellent as well…
Kuo Man Restaurant Kota KinabaluBeef Noodles from Kota KinabaluView of Gaya Island with boardwalk Kota Kinabalu
Planning for the next day of island visits, we headed to the Jesselton Point
Jesselton Point Kota KinabaluView from Jesselton Jetty Kota KinabaluTicketing booths for ferries at Jesselton Point
From there, we decided to go for only Manukan Island. Gaya Island being the largest is the most touristy. So it was out for us. It was then down to Mamutik, Manukan or Sapi. Manukan and Sapi was recommended for snorkelling. So Mamutik was out. Of the 2, we chose Manukan because Sapi had deeper waters (not good from the safety point of view). So by the process of elimination, we decided to go for Manukan!
An island ferry costs RM20 per pax and costs an additional RM10 for each additional island. You would also have to pay a conservation tax of RM7.20. At the island, there is also an entrance fee of RM10 for foreigners and RM3 for locals.
In the evening, we headed back to One Borneo shopping mall for more shopping! The deals were great especially because Parkson was celebrating its anniversary and giving out crazy deals!
Parkson Department Store Kota Kinabalu
We bought shoes, pants, shirts, dresses among other things that were 70% off! In the shopping mall, there is a Giant Hypermarket as well as many other small shops for you to explore!
Giant Hypermarket Kota KinabaluCentral Atrium Kota KinabaluSouth Atrium Kota Kinabalu
Island Visit – Manukan
It was pouring in the morning and we thought that our day of island visit was over. However, the “storm” cleared and we did enjoy a sunny day at Manukan!
Got our tickets from Beach Bums to visit Manukan Island
When we bought the tickets from beach bums, lifejacket (RM5) and snorkelling sets (RM20) were also available for rent.
The ride out was a bumpy one and Kate kept holding on to Tom’s arms leaving finger marks when we arrived at Manukan!
Boat Ride to Manukan Island
Bumpy Boat Ride from Kota Kinabalu (Jesselton) to Manukan Island
Map of Manukan Island Kota Kinabalu
The island was beautiful and by the time we dipped into the water, the sun came out! The waters were clear and we were able to see the fishes and enjoy sand playing at the beach…
Jetty of Manukan Island Kota KinabaluThe Beach at Manukan Island Kota KinabaluClear Waters at Manukan Island Kota Kinabalu2bearbear.com Sand Castle at Manukan Island
On the ride back, we were also able to see Mount Kinabalu from a distance!
Mount Kinabalu on route back from ManukanClose Up View of Mount Kinabalu
After we got back, we decided to catch the sunset again this evening. We still had about an hour to spare so Kate decided to go for the classy Rafflesia Spa @ Warisan Square (RM55 + 6% tax) while Tom waited at Shamrock Pub (Irish).
Sunset from Shamrock Pub (Waterfront)Beautiful Skies as seen from Shamrock Pub Kota Kinabalu Waterfront
Beautiful Sunset – See how the colours of the skies change
Dinner was at the Irish pub as well and we enjoyed the Homemade Beef Burger and Irish Stew (RM30 each).
Homemade Beef Burger Shamrock Irish Pub Kota KinabaluIrish Stew with Sides Shamrock Irish Pub Kota Kinabalu
The next day was a chill out at the pool for us. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable trip to Kota Kinabalu. Check out all these things to do and attractions in Kota Kinabalu and be sure to leave your comments back here!
We shall now leave you with a view from the our Silkair flight as we left the Kota Kinabalu International Airport…
View of the islands from the plane (Sunset Included)
Halloween Horror Nights @ Universal Studios Singapore (Resorts World Sentosa) has got to be the best Halloween-themed event we’ve been to!
The tickets not only allow visitors to be frightened at 5 different scare zones, there are also 2 haunted houses and 4 attractions rides (including battlestar galactica Cylon/Human) to keep visitors entertained from 8pm till 12 midnight.
The prices of the tickets costs $60 each and if you pay an additional $20 dollars, you would be able to enjoy the express pass to all 4 attractions (Battlestar Galactica Cylon/Human, Accelerator and Revenge of the Mummy). If you had recently applied for Maybank credit cards, you would have also received a pair of free passes to the event.
So, the plan was, to head directly to the attractions and take a few rides before the crowd overwhelms these attractions (by the time we left, the waiting time for battlestar galactica was 90minutes). However, the catch was , you would have to be the first few to navigate through the first 3 scare zones….
Event guide to Halloween Horror Nights Universal Studios Singapore
Map of Halloween Horror Nights Universal Studios Singapore
Looking at the map, you would notice that in order to reach Battlestar Galactica, you would have to navigate through the first 3 zones – CarnEvil, Post-Apocalyptic Rage as well as the Void…
CarnEvil
Since we were very focused, Kate and I were among the first to make a beeline to Battlestar Galactica. It was scary…
Entrance to CarnEvil
Since we were the first ones to enter, the scareactors have no one but YOU to scare, they would all turn their focus on YOU! So, there are basically 2 ways to navigate pass CarnEvil
1. Act like you’re on the phone. This was taught to us by an American kid who was here the previous week. When you seem uninterested or pre-occupied with something else, the scareactors will normally let you off.
2. Stick to the sidewalks. For CarnEvil, the sidewalks are still pretty much the merchandise shops or restaurants, so they are still very safe from the actors.
So that was what we did, stuck to the sidewalks and move on. We managed to take a video of the CarnEvil Ring Master who was game enough to strike a pose for us…
The Director
Having passed CarnEvil, you would be greeted by the Director. Yes, he is the one who is on the cover of the advertisements and brochures of Halloween Horror Nights. Scary dude…
The Director @ Halloween Horror Nights Universal Studios Singapore
Kate managed to catch a picture of him looking at our camera! Spine-chilling eh? He is also constantly on the lookout for other ‘victims’ as they pass by…
Post Apocalyptic Rage
This zone is easily the scariest of all zones at Halloween Horror Nights. The scareactors are really on. Not only that, when we finally navigated past CarnEvil with a few others, everyone (about 10 of us) were too scared to enter because the fog restricted our view and we really do not know what was ahead…
But in order to enjoy Battlestar Galactica , we had to brave this zone….though we really should have let others go ahead first…take a look at how one victim was scared by an ‘undead’ scareactor…
Imagine 10 of such actors ‘attacking’ Kate and I as we navigated past them! They were all closing in on us just like in the movies! So, we literally ran! (P.s. there were no side walks here). The fog also hindered our flight and we ran into more ‘undead’ as we tried to exit this zone!
The Void
The Void is a zone where a mad scientist has created ‘freaks’ such as frankensteins with brains exposed. The 2 zones (The Void and Post-Apocalyptic Rage) were almost joined, so barely after we exited one, we entered another…and still, we were the first ones and all the scareactors came after us! Ahh!!! So we had to “ask direction” from one of the staff (they are wearing their normal black Polo-Ts) so as to seek refuge from the scareactors!
Yup, we continued running! Close to the end of the zone, we saw the mad scientist performing an experiment on his next victim…
Battlestar Galactica Cylon/Human
Finally, after fleeing and fighting monsters for 3 zones, we got to Battlestar Galactica! Yay! We were the first ones there and therefore enjoyed front seats of both rides (Human and Cylon) before the crowd came.
Battlestar Galactica is actually a roller coaster ride that launches side by side, of course one of them represents Cylon (overhanging roller coaster) and the other Human (seated rollercoaster).
Battlestar Galactica
Entrance to Cylon
Cylon. First we visited Cylon, the overhanging ride. We were able to get the front row seat as we’re the first to arrive! The ride first propels you (not climb slowly) up to the top of the first peak as you drop down free-falling down the highest point of the ride. The rest of the ride makes you feel as though your dangling legs are going to hit the structures. Another highlight of the ride were the twists and overhanging portions where you navigate several seconds of the ride inverted. The last highlight of the ride has got to be one where the ride brings you at full force towards a white platform and as you think you’re not going to hit the platform, you’re wrong! You go straight into it! The ‘white platform’ is actually a water mist section, so as you emerge, you would heave a sigh of relieve…phew…didnt crash land there…
Human. We’ve got to say that both rides are enjoyable. But the ride that has a more thrilling effect on the first and highest peak has got to be Human. This is because it’s a seated roller coaster, and as you drop, the roller coaster “drops with you” , making you feel as though your heart’s dropping as well. Unlike Cylon, the overhanging ride pulls you up as you descend so you feel a little ‘safer’. Also because you can grab hold of the overhanging safety secure that covers your chest but you cant do that for Human as it secures you from bottom up, essentially leaving you without “cover” from chest up. The other highlight has got to be a almost 90 degrees turn that made us feel the G effect as we negotiated the bend.
Conclusion: Both rides are cool! May the best species survive…
The Edge of Darkness
After leaving Battlestar Galactica, there were still few people around (must have got stuck at the first few scare zones) so we decided to go for “Revenge of the Mummy”. Guess what, we had to navigate past the scareactors at the entrance of The Edge of Darkness. There was an “undead”, werewolf lookalike and a skeletal wizard. Of course they scared us as we were the first ones there…
Entrance to Revenge of the Mummy
As we entered the ride, we had to go through a long maze for about a minute before we reached the ride. While walking, we didnt see no one and it was getting kind of scary. (Tip for USS : if there was a scareactor along the queue, it would have upped the scare effect) We were the only ones on our ride again! The ride was especially scary when there’s no one else. The ups and downs of the roller coaster was done in pitch darkness so that was somewhat enjoyable as well (not knowing what turns or drop to expect next).
Leaving the ride, we entered the last zone which was the disco arena, 44Sins.
44Sins
The entrance was guarded by scareactors and we were really deciding whether to enter. But there was a lady who offered us a promotion to have free flow of Tiger Beer (on draft) for $30 which she said would grant us the courage for the night ahead. So we took the offer which by the way came with a shot of orange vodka.
Free Flow of Beer in Halloween Horror Nights Mug that blinks!
As we entered, the skeletal guy and muscular Eyptian man scared us but really, as you enter 44Sins, it is the ‘safe zone’, the scareactors here are really dancers and it’s quite funny when you see skeletal guy and ‘undead’ rocking the dance floor. Even the DJs were in masks…
We were also in time to see a dance performance put up by the scareactors…
We missed the 2 haunted houses (Vengeance of the Matriarch and The Pestilence) because we had enough frights for the night navigating through the scarezones as the only visitors. So we chilled and danced the night away at 44Sins…
On the way out, we had huge slice of Hawaiian pizza at Louie’s. It was $9 bucks but totally worth it as the crust was fluffy, something unique from normal pizzas. Do give it a try…
All in all, Halloween Horror Nights @ Universal Studios Singapore has been an excellent event and must be one of the most happening place for the Halloween theme.
Kudos to the USS producers , choreographers and scareactors!
deal.com.sg, goCrazy.com.sg, gobbler.com.sg, groupon.com.sg etc etc etc…there are so many online discount coupon/vouchers sites these days! Initially Tom and I were skeptical about these so-called “good deals” and we were worried about pushy sales people, so we let these deals slipped by. But one night as I was bored and surfing the internet to pass time, I came across this “$199 2D1N Philea Resort” deal. The photos of the resort look really inviting and I decided to check out the resort’s official website. Philea Resort was completed and officially opened in August 2010. Since it is still fairly new (it was Feb 2011 when we checked out the resort), we decided to book a weekend trip to Philea Resort Malacca in May 2011.
Philea Resort Malacca (Melaka) – Doesnt it look inviting
Our experience was marred by a 2 hour traffic jam at the Malaysia customs, and we arrived at the resort at about 3pm instead of the scheduled time of 1pm. We were hot and tired after the long bus ride but thankfully the check-in was smooth and there were welcome drinks and cold towels that quenched our thirst and refreshed us.
Refreshing drinks at the lobby of Philea Resort MelakaBuggy that transported us around the Philea Hotel
The hotel staff then helped us put our bags onto a buggy (is it pronounced as “Bud-gy” or “Buggie”?) and drove us to our room. On our way up, we could see the landscape of the resort, the tranquil swimming pool, and the spa facilities. We quickly settled into our room, checked out the amenities in the room (free pretty slippers!), and head down to the pool for a swim.
Front of our “cottage” roomBathtub Philea MelakaRain Shower Philea Resort MelakaCoffee Tea and Mineral Water in the roomThe inviting and comfortable bed! Philea Resort MelakaSculptured Lamp Shades in the room that depicts famous attractions in Melaka (Malacca)Bathroom Amenities!Waterfall Feature by the Pool Philea MelakaOpposite the Waterfall – Chill out lounges Philea Resort MelakaFront View of the Waterfall – Chillax by the pool Philea Resort Malacca
As it was a Saturday night, there was a seafood buffet dinner deal! Only RM69++ (approx $33SGD) per pax! The spread was awesome (esp the desserts for me, and the seafood for Tom), and we ate so much that we could hardly move. We even able to eat 2 whole snappers by ourselves and it was fresh and tasty! The BBQ corner also included other seafood such as prawn and crayfish. Yum! The quiet stroll back to our room on a cool night aided with the digestion, and we enjoyed the peaceful evening away from the crowded city life.
Table Setting at the buffetCooked Food SpreadCharming appetisers Philea Resort MelakaSeafood Spread + BBQ area with grilled snapper, crayfish at Philea Resort MelakaChocolate Fondue Philea Resort MalaccaDesserts!Complimented with fruits
The next morning, we woke up early to walk around the resort and take in the fresh air. Soon we were hungry and we made our way to the restaurant where the breakfast buffet (included in the package) is served. Once again, the variety of food made us happy. With chefs at the different stations to cook roti prata, waffles and pancakes on the spot, and the spread from an international buffet, we were really spoiled for choice 🙂
Roof with Water Feature at Philea Resort MelakaPhilea Resort Melaka Breakfast BuffetMore Food!Pastries and Yoghurt
After breakfast, we lazed by the pool and got a nice tan. It was a relaxing weekend, and we were all ready to conquer another week at work! 🙂
P.S Go visit Philea while it is still rather new and clean!
P.P.S Remember to plan activities for the bus trip eg card games or dvd to watch in case you get stuck in a unexpected traffic jam.
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This weekend, Kate and I decided to attend the Singtel Formula One F1 Grand Prix Night Race Street Circuit Singapore (what a mouthful!). As mentioned during a previous post, we are not really fans of F1. However, the main attraction for us this time round was Rick Astley and Shakira! (With hits such as Together Forever, Never gonna give you up, Hips dont lie, Waka Waka)
However, in order to catch them in the Fan Zone (dedicated area in front of the stage at Padang), we had to arrive at 3pm (gates open at 3pm) to get the Fan tickets that allowed us to enter the Fan Zone. It was quite fun to see that as soon as the gate opened, there were many people running towards the Padang Stage to get the fan tickets. We estimated that it was about a 200 metres sprint. Many faltered along the way, at the escalators and at the stairs.
For future fan zone tickets, it is worthy to note that even after most have gotten their fan zone tickets, there were still extra. So it really was unnecessary to run….
The first place we headed to was the Esplanade to catch the Rick Astley concert! There was already a long queue when we re-entered at 5pm! We entered from gate 3 because it was easily accessible via the City Hall MRT station/interchange.
Along the way, we got to catch the Porsche race as well…
However, we were slightly late for the Rick Astley concert
See how crowded it was!
Hence we had to settle for a bird’s eye view and enjoy an unobstructed view of the city…
Are you able to spot the energetic dancer in this clip? Clue: He is in white…
Next we headed to glutton’s bay to quelch our hunger. The prices were actually jerked up for the F1, fried oyster can cost up to $12 and people actually ordered it!
Of course we had to rush our dinner to ensure that we had a good view at Shakira’s concert…thankfully, there was a extension right in the middle of the stage that allowed Shakira to get closer to the fans in the middle. This was where we caught an excellent view of her.
Halfway through the concert, an enthusiastic fan just mounted upon his friend and bashed their way closer to the stage! But we could see he was a fan, being able to sing all the songs in Spanish as well…
After the performance, we are convinced that she is actually a very good performer live…take a look at these clips…
Shakira Dancing to the beat of the drums
Shakira on the harmonica and performing “Gypsy”
Shakira also did perform Hips Dont Lie and Waka Waka after the encore chants from the fans. This was how the concert ended, with mini fire works and confetti…
After the concert, we hurried back to catch the qualifying…however we were only able to catch the Q3 and final lap by the time we were seated (it took quite a while before we could leave the concert area at Padang)…
It was another long wait to leave the Bay Grandstand. However, we did enjoy this year’s F1 Race. We think that with all the festivities (sourvenirs, tents for food and drinks as well as concerts), it makes Singtel Formula One Singapore an unique event and one that is really prominent on the F1 calendar.
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Over the long weekend, Kate and I were invited to be at the Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa for a staycation. The exciting thing was that the resort is a 5 star hotel and we’re staying at the most expensive place in the hotel, the 2 bedroom villa! It has 2 rooms, an open air bathtub and a private plunge pool!
Reception of Amara Sanctuary Resort SentosaOn the way to the Sky Pool
As the villa was not ready when we arrived, we went to the sky pool to enjoy an afternoon swim. The sky pool had an excellent pool overlooking the ocean…
Sky Pool at Amara Sanctuary Resort SentosaMini bar at the Sky Pool
We took a look at the menu and there’s a fried hokkien mee that costs $34!! Of course there’s a reason why. It is served with abalone, lobster as well as roast pork. Yum. There’s even a jacuzzi at the sky pool!
Jacuzzi at the Sky PoolAmara Sanctuary Resort Staycation Singapore Sentosa 2 Bedroom (BR) Villa with plunge (private) poolViews overlooking the ocean from the sky pool
After the swim, we were pleasantly surprised by the amenities in the room. The private plunge pool didnt disappoint. It even comes with its own water jets to do provide for some water massaging!
The Private Plunge Pool in the 2 bedroom villaWater Jets for water massageTatami Mats for outdoor stargazing or just chilling by the pool
Next was the master room with an outdoor bathtub, shower points and 2 individual sinks.
The master bedroom with mosquito nettingsOne of the 2 sinks2nd sink beside the open air showerOpen air shower pointOpen air bathtub with overhanging Frangipani Tree
The 2 rooms are connected at the back via the tatami mat area as well….
Where the 2 rooms connect
The 2nd bedroom had 2 super singles and an attached bathroom.
2 super singles connected togetherBathroom of the 2nd bedroom
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the 2 bedroom villa. The rooms had sliding doors that could open up such that we could watch TV from the plunge pool! The rooms were also stocked with different kinds of tea as well as a Nespresso machine with coffee capsules. The only thing was that there were quite alot of mosquitos. Which is why the hotel provides unlimited mosquito coils which we put to good use at the various corners of the villas. That also pretty much explains the mosquito nets.
Although we didnt ask the price, from the internet, we saw that the 2 bedroom villa costs about $2000 per night! It was a good experience and we thoroughly enjoyed the pools (both sky pool and private plunge pool) at the Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa!
There are so many local hawker fare in Singapore. To the locals, hawker food is still the best. In the olden days, hawkers used to ply the streets selling their foods. However, in the 1960s, the hawkers were re-located into hawkers centres where many stalls are gathered in one place. Today, these hawker centres are called food centres and the hawker food is also found in food courts everywhere in Singapore.
One of the local favourites is the Chai Tow Kway aka Fried Carrot Cake
Fried Carrot Cake aka Chai Tow Kway
How it is made
In this dish, there isnt any real carrots per se. Instead, white radish or “white carrots” are mixed together with flour and steamed to create the “body” or the carrot cake itself.
The fried part comes in when this steamed carrot cake is divided into squarish portions and fried together with sweet and dark soy sauce, eggs and chai poh (preserved radish).
The Taste
There are basically 2 types of fried carrot cake commonly found in Singapore. It is the white version (fried without sweet/dark soy sauce) and the dark (or black) version. Most of my foreign friends prefer the white version as it is very much palatable and the taste of fried eggs is very much acceptable. On the other hand, the dark version, slightly on the sweeter side has its own followers as well.
When you are in Singapore, do take time to try both and see if you belong to the white or the dark side… Enjoy!
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There are so many local hawker fare in Singapore. To the locals, hawker food is still the best. In the olden days, hawkers used to ply the streets selling their foods. However, in the 1960s, the hawkers were re-located into hawkers centres where many stalls are gathered in one place. Today, these hawker centres are called food centres and the hawker food is also found in food courts everywhere in Singapore.
One of the local favourites is the Char Kway Teow aka Fried Kway Teow…
Char Kway Teow
Kway Teow actually refers to white flat noodles. However, in char kway teow or fried kway teow (by now you would have known char is fried right?), yellow noodles are often used.
How it is made
It is really simple to make this local hawker fare. Garlic is first fried till its golden brown while beansprouts,lap cheong (chinese sausage), eggs, chives and sometimes prawn or squid is fried together. Next the flat white rice noodles (kway teow) and yellow noodles are thrown in to be fried together again. Light / Dark and a little bit of sweet soy sauce is added to taste.
Once this is done, the fried noodles is laid over fresh cockles for it to be cooked under the heat of the noodles.
The Taste
There are commonly two varieties of char kway teow (much like the fried hokkien prawn noodles), the wet version or the dry version. Personally, I like mine a little bit wetter. The moisture is usually derived from water or stock.
The char kway teow in Singapore is commonly a little bit on the sweet side (though it is still pretty much a savoury dish), the fried beansprouts together with eggs and chives brings out a local flavour that is both aromatic and savoury. You’ve got to try it to experience it!
If you are not a local, chances are, you would not know about the Marina Barrage, one of Singapore’s most well kept secret.
However, with the increasing number of events being held at this latest lifestyle destination, it wont be long before this becomes an open secret.
NDP Theme Song 2009 Electrico – What do you see filmed on site at the Marina Barrage
In 2009 when Electrico performed the theme song for the National Day Parade, the marina barrage rose to fame. Forward to the last parts of the song and you will see stunning views of the Singapore City Landscape.
The Marina Barrage has a 3-fold function. Primarily, it is a water catchment area and helps to supplement Singapore’s water supply by cordoning off the marina bay area and converting it into a fresh water catchment area. In addition, the flood gates at the barrage helps to regulate the water levels within Singapore and helps to ease flooding conditions. Lastly, but most importantly, the Marina Barrage today, serves as a venue for families to gather and have fun together as it offers a venue for picnics, kite flying, water fun and water sports!
Bird’s eye view of the Marina Barrage
Well…for me and Kate, the Barrage holds a much deeper meaning. We have gone through anniversaries, dates at the Barrage and today we still very much enjoy just picnic and enjoy the views. Take a look at this view…
View of the Singapore Flyer from the Marina Barrage
Sometimes, it is just nice to lie down on the green pastures and enjoy the view of the clear blue sky….
A kite in the midst of the clear blue skies
The marina barrage has also accompanied us through countless sunsets…
Sun setting over the Marina Bay Sands
More Sunsets…
The Marina Barrage also accompanied us through earlier days, even before the completion of the Marina Bay Sands…
Marina Bay Sands without the sail at the top yet…
During one of our dates, we even encountered the helicopter fly-pass in preparation for the National Day Parade…
Close up of the National Flag Fly Pass
When all Singaporeans come together as one…
Of course, the reason why the Marina Barrage is a very well kept secret is because it offers the most fantastic view of the Singapore City Skyline!
At the Barrage, there is a cafe/pub with live music sometimes, a chinese restaurant as well as a souvenir shop. But most family nowadays head to the barrage for a time of gathering either flying a kite, having a picnic or having some water fun at the fountains…
But for Kate and I, the Marina Barrage will always be a well polished gem that both of us have discovered together…
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Kate and I always enjoy things that are cheap and good (in hokkien : ai pi ai chee). So when the formula one (f1) grand prix night race came to Singapore, we were eager to be part of the event. This is also because there are only 2 of such f1 night races in the world and it is also one of the most spectacular street circuits on the f1 calendar. However, the F1 tickets were quite expensive (eventhough it includes F1 live which includes acts such as mariah carey, linkin park etc.) and we were not really that much of F1 fans. So, in order to be part of the grandprix, we decided to hunt around the race track to see where we would have free close up view of the event.
After some scouting, we realised that the marina square food court had a good view of the formula one race. Not only that, as the Singapore f1 leg was also a night race, it provided a stunning backdrop to the grandprix.
Formula One (F1) Grand Prix Night Race Singapore
Whats more, we also had food from the food court as we enjoyed the f1 race! 🙂
Before the race started, there was a display of vintage cars that went around the track…
As night descended, we also had splendid view of the marina bay area
View of the Marina Bay towards the direction of the Merlion
It is important to note that, whenever you are attending any formula one grand prix race, BRING EAR PLUGS! For those who are sitting right at the podium of the F1 races, it is strongly recommended to bring ear defenders. These will help to protect your ears from the deafening sounds from those high-performance formula one engines! Also, if you are considering these free spots around the track, do remember to turn up early to chope (book) those seats. Kate and I were there 2 hours before the race started to ensure we had “one of the best seats in the house”!
The race this year was very exciting as Lewis Hamilton who was starting at 2nd position, crashed out in the 35th lap due to an accident. Later during the race we find Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber battling hard to gain the top 3 spots from 8th,5th and 6th positions respectively.
As the race wore on, we saw 2 distinct groups pulling away, namely 1,2 and 3,4,5,6. So as we watched the race, the first 2 cars would pass by,silence, followed by 4 cars ,silence then the rest of the pack. In the end, it was Alonso who battled and fought at corners to stay on course to clinch the top spot from the 8th starting position. Great race, great determination!
Kate and I thoroughly enjoyed the race from our free spot at Marina Square. Later on, many fans also packed the place as this is now an open secret! Hence, for those of you F1 fanatics out there who missed out on those valuable f1 tickets, you might want to consider the newly renovated marina square food court for air-conditioned, bird’s eye view of portions of the track!
However, with F1 live as part of the package of the race, it is definitely worth it to buy those tickets, especially when the acts are one of your favourites. Enjoy the race!
Kate and I were invited to the Chingay Parade and festival and it was our first time ever! We were of course excited and decided to be there early to join in the ra-ra (pre-show audience warm-up) before the show started. Before we go into the details, a little bit about the origin of Chingay…
The Chingay Parade had its roots as a street performance or masquerade started in the 1970s. Today, it has evolved and has become an international festival with audience from all over the world. Touted as the grandest streets and floats parade in Asia, the Chingay Parade boasts of dazzling displays of colours and multi-culturalism that Singapore offers.
The Chingay Parade has been held at the Pit-Building (the actual Pit building for formula one on the F1 calendar) for the past couple of years. It is primarily a street performance where audience are seated on both sides of a street as the performers and displays pass by. The performance would include street performers from all over the world. In addition, organisations in Singapore , both private and public companies or organisations, would also stage performanances that attracts the attention of the crowd. At the pit-building, more than 150,000 spectators can be seated.
As Kate and I begun to get seated at our Category 3 seats (costs about $25 dollars), we noticed 2 of Singapore’s most famous hosts – Gurmit Singh and Quan Yi Feng. It was exciting to see how they warmed up the crowd and entertained us, getting us all psyched up before the first performers arrived.
We were surprised by the first few acts whereby firecrackers (something banned in Singapore except at festivals such as this) and fireworks were used. Stilt walkers and performers from China held huge flags and balanced them superbly as they passed the audience. It was awesome!
The whole parade was filled with dazzling colours and wonderful floats. One of the 2 floats that caught our attention was the USS (Universal Studio Singapore) floats with all the characters such as Kung Fu Panda and the Madagascar Characters. The other float that caught our attention was the HDB (Housing and Development Board of Singapore – Provides public housing for all Singaporeans). This is because the float featured the latest public project that garnered design awards – Pinnacle@Duxton. Here are some of the highlights of the evening…
Chingay Parade and Festival Singapore – Street Parade Culmination and Melting Pot of Cultures, Street Performances and DisplaysChingay @ Marina Bay
Of course, to round of the entire parade, what else but FIREWORKS!
Kate and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves (as you may have heard from the screams of our video) and we were pleasantly surprised by how great and awesome a street performance can be. We formerly typified floats as boring as we see them drive pass during the parade season.
However, having come close to the performance, it actually brings us to see how much work the performers have put in and how much attention to detail have been placed into all the costumes and float designs. Impressive!
Chingay @ Marina Bay
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We hope you’ll enjoy the Chingay Parade in Singapore this year!
On one fine Saturday afternoon, as Kate and I were passing by the Ducktours booth in Suntec City, we thought to ourselves…”Hey, let’s be tourists for the day!”
So without much hesitation, we bought tickets ($33 per person) and waited to board our very first duck tour ride.
The Duck is actually a re-modelled WW2 Vietnamese amphibious craft.
The “Ducktainers” or tour guide would introduce us to the various structures as the Duck drove pass the landmarks. At the start of the tour was the fountain of wealth, right at the heart of Suntec City. Next, we headed towards the city hall area and viewed the Cenotaph, one of Singapore’s oldest war memorial. It was here where we entered the water…
We were soon in the basin of the Singapore River and we were able to see many of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks and structures such as the Merlion, Esplanade, Fullerton Hotel, Singapore Flyer, The World’s largest Floating Platform (where the National Day Parade is held), Tallest Hotel in Southeast Asia – Swissotel Singapore and the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort halfway built…
Merlion @ Marina Bay
Singapore’s Tourism Icon – The Merlion
Overall, it was a nice refreshing tour. The “Ducktainers” were indeed entertaining and even “prepared” us as we entered the water (saying we’ll get wet and all, which we didnt). They were also armed with snippets of information which would be interesting for tourists.
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If you have read our last post on the joys of cruising (click here) you would understand why Kate and I really enjoy cruises.
However, we’ve got to say that this Royal Caribbean Cruise was one of the best cruises we’ve ever had because
1. 8D7N for $750 per person is a steal! This translates to only slightly more than a $100 bucks a night! This kind of cheap deal usually occurs in two types of situations. The first one is the establishment of a new route (which was the case for this cruise). The second is when the ship leaves a port AND DOES NOT return to the same port. This is to say you will cruise to another port (likely a different country) and you will have to make your own way back home.
There is actually a 3rd case. This occurs when they have some collaboration with some websites and you happen to stumble upon it. One of our newly minted friends onboard told us that they got a suite (A SUITE!) for about $1000 per person over the same period through a website offer. The deal was apparently snapped up very quickly.
2. Food. We are not exaggerating when we say that the food was EXCELLENT! The fine dining restaurant (Romeo and Juliet) was one of the highlights of the cruise. Each night we would anticipate the display of its menu and choose the dish that we want! It was something to look forward each night because
a. Service. You would be pampered by waiters and waitresses who will remember your names after the first night! They would remember your preferences such as whether you would like cold/hot water, pepper or not in your soup etc…
b. Presentation. The food would be very well presented! If it was a bisque, you would find a little artistic touch (like latte art) at the top. Likewise for the desserts, the plate would be decorated with fruits, chocolates, sauce etc.
c. Taste. The food we must say is of international standards! Not only would there be creativity in the types of food (fusion, western, asian), the tastes was mostly unforgettable!
d. Unlimited servings! This means you can try ALL the mains and ALL the desserts for the night!
Some examples of the wonderful food we’ve had…
Tiger Prawns Caribbean CruiseLamb Shank Royal Caribbean CruisePulled Pork Burger Royal Caribbean Cruise
In order not to lugi (to lose out on), you should always board your cruise at lunch time (around 12pm) to enjoy your first meal onboard!
First meal aboard Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas
Then spend some time to check out the whole cruise ship!
The Windjammer Cafe Royal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the SeasInterior Room Royal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the SeasDressing room and Satellite TV (with programmes even out at sea) Royal Caribbean Cruise Interior Room Legend of the SeasAttached Toilet Royal Caribbean Cruise Interior RoomThe Rock Climbing Wall Royal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the SeasThe Swimming Pool Legend of the Seas Royal Caribbean CruiseMini Golf Legend of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise
As mentioned in the star cruise post , it is always wise to wake up early to take in the breeze and the sunrise…
Sea Views Royal Caribbean Cruise
It was refreshing to see guests take on the challenge and scale the wall onboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise. Some of the ladies made it seem easy. However, it is perfectly safe as the guides are on standby to assist you on your way up and down. Hence, only 2 can ascend/descend at a time. The wait is quite fast though, give it a try if you feel like challenging yourself onboard the cruise!
Climber gearing up to scale rock climbing wall – Royal Caribbean CruiseClimber scaling rock climbing wall – Royal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the Seas
Semarang , Indonesia
We were there on a Sunday and it was nice to see the locals enjoying themselves at the markets and ‘central park’
Royal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the Seas at SemarangThe fair at ‘central park’ Semarang IndonesiaLocals and Tourists alike enjoying the markets Semarang IndonesiaFried rice we had in Semarang IndonesiaWhat to drink in Semarang – Avocado Juice!
It is worthy to note at this point that Kate and I usually dont join the organised tours at the ports because of the steep price and also because we prefer to travel by own and enjoy the freedom of going where we want to go. Hence, when you reach a port, do note that you can always choose to take a ride provided by RCC to a popular local area for a small fee and you can travel on your own from there.
Towel Art
Each night, we would be surprised by the Towel Art carefully created and left behind by our room service staff. There was also a Towel Art class that taught guests how to create them. Some examples…
Swan Towel Art Royal Caribbean CruiseTowel art made by us…rabbit or elephant…you decide!
Kuta – Bali, Indonesia
We reached Bali at night and had an overnight stay in the port. Kate and I took the night out and enjoyed the streets of Kuta (Kuta Beach) and chilled out at a pub while listening to the live band.
Legend of the Seas off Bali IndonesiaShopping Street – Kuta IndonesiaLive Band at Tequila Bar Kuta Beach Bali IndonesiaWhat we had at Tequila Bar Bali Indonesia
Nusa Dua – Bali, Indonesia
Nusa Dua is a beach bum’s paradise with pristine beaches and five star hotels lining these beaches. Some of these beaches can be quite private and cater only to guests of the hotel. Like most beaches, there are many water activities such as banana boat, skiing and paragliding available.
The beaches…
Nusa Dua BaliDeck Chairs for rent Nusa Dua Bali IndonesiaNusa Dua Bali HotelRoyal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the SeasArtistic Shot of Royal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the Seas
Lombok Indonesia
Lombok is a laid back little town where things pretty much remained in the 60s and 70s. However, with modernisation and an upcoming airport, this looks set to change. There is currently just a shopping centre in the middle of town. Hope the rest of its local flavour would remain…
Approaching Lombok IndonesiaGreetings from the locals (with music and dance) at Lombok IndonesiaThe only shopping centre and only McDonald’s here in Lombok IndonesiaThe local markets in Lombok IndonesiaSalted / preserved fish Lombok IndonesiaRiding the Chi-Domo (pony) to the pearl factory in Lombok Indonesia
As we alighted at the main shopping mall, a local who spoke a little bit of English, offered to take us around. So we joined another couple on this escapade. He took us to markets first where we were shown the local foods and sweets.
Next we headed to see the local sarong and the different designs they had. We also took the chi-domo (pony) to the pearl centre. There we were shown the various salt and fresh water pearls. Salt water pearls are usually more expensive and their natural colours are less. The ‘scar’ on the salt water pearl is also usually smaller than that of the fresh water pearls.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Tender: Boat transfer from the ship to the shore
Belly Flop Competition
The other highlight of the cruise was the belly flop competition. This is where competitors seek to have the biggest splash by spreading their body squarely as they enter the water. The crowd would then judge by flashing their fingers. Here are the highlights
The competitors Belly Flop Competition Royal Caribbean CruiseClose up of the competitors Royal Caribbean Cruise Belly Flop CompetitionThe slimmest of the competitors making a big splash for belly flop competition!The eventual winner of belly flop competition…you can see why…(imagine what happened next)
Performances
We were captivated by the world-reowned American pianist who spent some time in China, teaching the locals. Then there were dance performance by the RCC in-house performaners.
The waiters and waitresses even sang us a closing song on our last night. It was really memorable.
In-house performance Royal Caribbean CruisePerformance by FnB Staff on Royal Caribbean Cruise Legend of the Seas
Conclusion
All in all, this was one of the most memorable cruises. If you are considering a cruise, we would recommend the Royal Caribbean Cruise for its excellent service and food.
He says: Fun times always end so quickly! The 8 days away really relaxed me completely. Needless to say, I enjoyed the fine dining experience!
There are so many things to do and attractions in Sapa! Let’s find out what are some of the things to do right here in Sapa Vietnam!
We arrived at about 5am in the morning at Lao Cai train station. There we caught a transfer bus to Sapa which was about an hour. We arrived at the Sapa Global Hotel and we had our breakfast there. Breakfast was nice and simple. But what caught our attention was the magnificent view of Fansipan mountain. The temperature had dipped to between 15-20 degrees so it was nice and cooling with surreal views of the mountains. Chillax.
Shortly after, we were introduced to our guide Chi for the day and she took us on a “lite” trekking trip. It was actually quite a trek! But before long, we reached Cat Cat village where we had some black pig satay (barbeque) and saw a small waterfall. We entered the village and ventured into a H’mong villager’s abode. It had a stench and there were corns overhanging at the ceiling. It was dark and litted only by the sun light. We saw some dyes for indigo and played some of the traditional musical instruments. Kate tried the weaving machine while we both tried to push a corn grinding machine. It was tough work.
After a short trek, we were back at the Sapa Global Hotel where we had our lunch. We were then driven to our hotel. Victoria Sapa Hotel. IT was a 5 star hotel (well at least to us). It had a marvellous view of a man-made lake and views of Fansipan Mountain as well. The room was spacious, with a bath tub and a balcony. The hotel also has a heated pool with nice views of lawned greenery. Sort of like a paradise right in the heart of Sapa.
We ended of the night with dinner at the restaurant and there was also a traditional performance of dance, music and singing by the H’mong people.
Day 6 – Lao Chai, Tu Van Village, Trekking
We spent this day trekking to home of the H’mong, Lao Chai and Tu Van Village. First off, we would like to warn all potential visitors that this trek is not for the faint of heart and can be treacherous at some points.
The trek takes you down into the valley, home of the H’mong and crossing some dangerous terrain. At one point, we were thinking hard to ourselves, why were we ACTUALLY RISKING OUR LIVES to see the village? There was one point where a false step would literally lead to our fall of death. Thank the Lord, we arrived safely!
Having said that, we have to mention that the views were fantastic. We also visited the Tu Van village, home to the Giay (pronounced at Tzai) people. It was nice to walk among these friendly people. After a day of trekking, both Kate and I had sore toes…
Highlights
Home of the H’mong PeopleH’Mong kidsWaterfalls of Cat Cat VillageRoom of the Victoria Sapa HotelView from the Room of Victoria Sapa HotelMount FansipanIndoor Swimming Pool at Victoria Sapa Hotel Vietnamese Coffee SapaPerformance by the H’mong PeopleAnother awesome view of the Fansipan mountainsSunday Market @ SapaTrekking down to the Valley in SapaTreacherous Path! One small slip and we’ll fall to the bottom of the ravine in Sapa!River in the Sapa valley
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We started the day early (8:30am) and left on a 3.5 hours bus ride to Halong Bay Harbour. Along the way, we stopped at a ceramics statue exhibit place and had our toilet break there. Coke was ex. $1.5 a can.
We took a small boat to our junk boat. Again, we were pleasantly surprised as we entered our room. It was nicely laid out and looked really cosy, with an unexpectedly clean toilet. We were later led up to the dining hall to have our seafood lunch. Nothing to shout about but it was pleasant.
As our junk boat – Bai Tu Long, went near to the UNESCO heritage site of Halong Bay, we could see little islets popping up. It was real cool. There were many islets that resembled things like a monster’s mouth, a man’s face, horse, a fisherman and lots more. You just have to use some imagination to see them
Our first stop was the Surprise Caves or Hang (Cave) Sung Sot (Surprise). IT was a cave with natural rock formations. Also formed by streams of water. 2 natural formation that was surprising to see, was a couple as well as a heart. The climb up and down the caves was tiring. But the view of Halong Bay from the top was simply amazing, really worth the trip (all 3.5 hours bus ride and boat trip).
Day 4 – 2nd Day at Halong Bay
Kate and I woke up early this morning to enjoy the morning breeze as well as the view of the Halong Bay as well as its islets. Of course, we played a game to identify new ‘formations’ using our imagination and we discovered a koala bear, a horse / dog and a middle finger! We then went to the dining hall for an american style breakfast. Ham bread and juice.
The morning’s programme was a canoe trip. If you arent interested, you can opt to just remain on the small boat. Kate and I decided to just laze back on the boat while it took us to the sights. There was an enclosure that we were unable to enter because of the high tide. But we were told that it was a sanctuary inside with birds and vegetation flourishing. The boat also took us in and out of a cave and we saw some unusual formations such as a cave within a cave and the Luon Cave.
In the evening, we left for Sapa and we boarded the overnight train ride King Express Deluxe. Just prior to board, we managed to buy 1 litre of bia hoi (beer) for only 13,000VND or $1!
Highlights
The Humble Junk Boat to Halong BayInside the Room of the Junk Boat – Nice huh?Monster’s Mouth Halong BayEntrance to the Caves at Halong Bay (Hang Sung Sot)Can you see the couple? (Halong Bay Cave)See if you can spot the horse/dog, Koala Bear and Fisherman? (Halong Bay)The Middle Finger! (Halong Bay Imagination)Isnt that a man lying down? (Halong Bay)Entering the Halong Bay Caves in low tideCanoeing into the Halong Bay CavesAnother Unique Formation at Halong Bay
There are so many things to do and attractions in Hanoi! Let’s find out what are some of the things to do right here in Hanoi Vietnam!
So we were deciding which city to go to. Hanoi, the capital city or Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam? In addition, Ho Chi Minh City has the historical war tunnels. However, we decided to go for Hanoi because of its accessibility from the airport as well as the opportunity to visit attractions to its east and west , namely Sapa and Halong Bay.
Introduction
Hanoi is located on the north east of Vietnam. On this trip, we visited Halong Bay (the UNESCO World Heritage Site) to its East and Sapa (350Km northwest of Hanoi). Some rate of conversions when we visited at the end of 2009
1USD = 1.4SGD=18,000VND OR 1SGD=13,000VND (Vietnam Dong)
Average haircut : 250,000 VND for gals
Taxi ride from Hanoi train station to Bat Su St:
50,000 VND (not 100,000 VND!)
Bia Hoi (Beer) at street corner: 6,000 VND for 1 glass (Yes it is really that cheap!)
Pastries: 6,000 VND @ local bakeries (11 Cha Ca St)
Foot massage: USD4 for 30mins (Au Trieu St)
Souvenir magnets: 10,000 VND
Day 1 (Arrival and trip to the Hotel)
We arrive at the Noi Bai Airport (Vietnam) and were greeted by our friendly driver with the sign that says “Hanoi Boutique Hotel : Kate”. Everything was smooth until we got on the car…
1. Max Speed. The car was moving at a maximum speed of 60km/h! No matter how fast it was trying to go or how it was overtaking other cars (can you imagine?) it was still travelling no more than 60km/h. Talk about safety…
2. High Beam and Horn. Everyone seems to be driving with their high beam lights on. The most interesting part was, EVERY car and motorcycle were sounding their horns throughout the journey! Our driver was practically placing his hands on the horns throughout the entire journey!
3. Crossing the road. We witnessed how an old lady crossed the road amidst endless trails of motorcycles. The trick is, to cross at a constant pace. The old lady was walking really really slowly across the road, it didnt seem like she was looking at the on coming traffic at all! The key was, she was moving slowly BUT at a CONSTANT pace. The result? Every oncoming motorcycle was able to predict her path and avoided her altogether! This little observation was put to good use throughout the rest of the trip. You really need this piece of advice, plus some guts, to cross Vietnamese roads.
As we approached the hotel, it really didnt look appealing at all. It looked like a 1 star hotel and the entrance was relatively small. But things started to change as you enter the reception, it was clean and inviting with renovations that looked new. But the surprise really came when we entered the room…
It immediately upgraded to 3 stars! Nicely decorated room, with a balcony view of the streets as well as a plasma tv! The toilet was clean and had toiletries (including towels) readily available. To top it off, WI-FI was free! We turned in early that evening, to the sound of horns on the streets…
Day 2 – Hanoi City, Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Temple of Literature, KOTO – Know One Teach One, One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, Martyr’s Monument, Old East End Gate, Dong Xuan Market, Water Puppet Show, Bag/Shoe Street, City View Cafe
Soon morning came and we were (not surprisingly) awaken by the sound of the horns. It was nice to breathe the morning air and look out at the balcony, the streets before the hustle and bustle begins. We took breakfast and were pleasantly surprised by the chicken and beef pho that were served. It suited our taste buds well. There were also fruits and fruit juice to go along. Not bad…
We decided to walk towards the museums and Mausoleum (famous structure). Along the way, we stopped for an authentic cup of Vietnam cuppa. For 77cents (abt 50cents USD), we had one of the best coffee we’ve ever drank. It was rich yet wholely Vietnamese with aroma of the coffee with every sip. It was then it dawned upon us….Starbucks has been cheating our $$ all these while!
As we ventured on, we took photos of memorials, statues and a Catholic church. We soon stumbled upon the Mausoleum from a distance and decided to get closer to take some photos. As we got closer, we realised there were some important Korean officials visiting the place and there were literally no one in the vicinity except the police. So happily, as excited tourists, we took out our camera and started shooting. Almost immediately, the whistles started to sound and we were waved to move away from the vicinity! Much like prisoners trying to break out of jail, being whistled at…quite a traumatic experience. So enjoy the pictures that we ‘risked’ our lives for!
Next, we headed for the Ho Chi Minh museum, mainly because we wanted to use the toilet. We paid 15,000VND each to enter the museum. The museum showcased the history of its leader and some of the important milestones and significant events that took place. It also showed pictures of him meeting leaders of various countries at that time.
As we approached the Temple of Literature, it started to rain. We were then approached by locals with ponchos (make shift rain coats) ready with them. Some selling at 18,000VND while others only at 10,000. Because of the rain, we took only photos at the entrance and headed straight for lunch at KOTO (Know One Teach One).
The KOTO project was really to help children off the streets and to equip them with culinary skills so that they can become self sufficient and provide for themselves by either serving in hotels / restaurants or continue to teach others like themselves. Both Kate and I found this to be a very meaningful project and came by specially to support.
The food was GREAT! We had the roll with beef and prawn as well as the fried beef noodles. Both were delicious and both were authentic Vietnamese. We were very much satisfied, both with the quality of the food as well as with ourselves, being able to help a good cause. We ended off with Bia-hoi (Beer) to wash it all down…
We ventured back to the city and to the famous Hoan Kiem River where we took photos of the lake as well as the One Pillar Pagoda right smack in the middle of the lake.
Along a foot path recommended by Lonely Planet, we were able to take photos of the Martyr’s monument, Old East End Gate as well as the Dong Xuan Market where daily food supplies can be found. We also passed the black smiths street (whole street of black smiths) before heading to KFC (where else?) for dinner before our much anticipated water puppet show in the evening. This KFC was overlooking the centre of the city (pretty much a roundabout) with the Hoan Kiem Lake as the backdrop. So there’s actually a reason why we chose KFC for dinner….
Soon it was time for us to enter the theatre to watch the water puppet show. The show started with the Dan Bow player playing tunes akin to the chinese Er Hu. It is basically a stringed instrument with only one string. It was said that in the past, it was only played by males and that parents were worried that young girls would be attracted to Dan Bow players because of the enchanting tunes.
The show itself was interesting, with displays of the dragon, phoenix and puppets illustrating the legend. There was even small fireworks towards the end. Here is part of the show…
After the show, the puppeteers revealed themselves as the curtains lifted and they demonstrated (without the curtains) how they were moving the puppets behind the scenes. After the show, Kate and I walked past the shoes and bags street (literally lots of shoes and bags, Kate’s favourite) and we had supper at the City View Cafe. A little ex, but the view of the night was great. We had a pizza and some drinks to wind down the night…
Highlights
The Hanoi Boutique HotelThe room @ Hanoi Boutique HotelToiletries provided in the roomVietnamese CoffeeOne Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem LakeThe MausoleumThe Temple of LiteratureStreets of HanoiThe Old Gate HanoiThe City Centre HanoiThe Dan Bow player at the water puppet showThe Water Puppeteers HanoiYummy Street Foods
Ah…cruises…one of our favourite ways of having a holiday and vacation. There are so many benefits and advantages of going on a cruise
1. All prices inclusive. That means to say, you have 6 meals a day (2 snacks, 3 meals and a supper), use of the pool which includes the jacuzzi, sauna, gym, cinema, entertainment shows in the evening, game shows, art and craft, sunrise, sunset. ALL INCLUSIVE in one price! But of course, if you want some red/white wine or in room service, you’d have to top up. Essentially, one price gives you all the entertainment that the cruise ship offers.
2. No need for plans. That’s right! All programmes have been planned out for you each day. This really makes for a good holiday where you can just unwind, join in the programmes if you want to and skip if you just want to enjoy the sea breeze and sounds of the ocean. Even if you go for shore excursions, the options are there for you to follow what the cruise has planned for you (usually at exhorbitant prices) but you get gist ya? No planning required. Just follow the programmes and hop in and out as you wish.
3. Value for money. As a typical kiasu (scared to lose out) Singaporean, the all expenses paid for trip is value for money. For one price, I get to travel, stay in a ‘hotel’ and enjoy its facilities, eat as much as I want (thats where I really get the value back) and enjoy the shows in the evening that includes magic shows, music and dance, acrobatics/circus among others.
4. Getting back to nature – oceanliner style. You really do get to enjoy the wonders of God’s creation by joining a cruise. You can wake up each morning and enjoy the marvellous sunrise, end the evening with views of spectacular sunsets. You also get to star gaze in the night without bright city lights obscuring the view. The calming sounds of the waves and vast limitless ocean views really does soothes the soul. You could even catch a glimpse of the dolphins swimming with the cruise ship!
With that as the backdrop, Kate and I chose to celebrate our anniversary onboard the Superstar Virgo (from Starcruise) for a 4D3N cruise to Phuket and Langkawi (from Signapore).
We paid about $700 each for the balcony class room. This means that you can enjoy views of the ocean and port right in your room. Remember, there is always ongoing deals with your credit card. Usually it is with UOB and Citibank, do check this out with your local dealers. We got a 50% off through the cards.
Essentially, the trip was a relaxing and rejuvenating one. So we’ll just take you through some of the highlights of the trip!
Day 1
Bought Kate a music singing balloon – Love Machine and we started to take pictures of it throughout the ship. Take a look at the pictures…
First thing you do when you board the ship – EAT! We had our lunch at the Mediterranean (deck 12) and enjoyed some pasta with meatballs. As the ship slipped off, we immerse ourselves in the pool (parthenon pool) and waved goodbye to Singapore. We also slipped in and out of the jacuzzi and enjoyed the outdoor slide (part of it even overhangs out to the ocean!). Before long, it was dinner time! We chose to have dinner at the Chinese-themed restaurant – Pavilion (deck 6). The chinese food was not bad i must say.
Then we headed for the show of the night. It was Terry Parade (the Lido at Deck 7) performing juggling acts. He was good! Juggling things like ping-pong balls and plastic bags! Also on the same deck as you enter or leave the Lido is the casino, be wary!
Day 2
We caught the sunrise this morning and enjoyed dim sum breakfast back at the Pavilion. The picture house (deck 8) was showing Tale of Desperaux and we caught the movie there. Lunch was at Bella Vista (Deck 6) where western fanfare was served. We had a bottle of wine (too much) and enjoyed the beef and sandwich there.
We were alongside Phuket in the afternoon and we got on a tour to visit the cashew nut factory. The workers there work really hard and carefully retrieve each cashew nut from its ‘shell’ to ensure that it is whole. Any cashew nut that is not retrieved as a whole, will be considered ‘defective’ and fetch a lower price. We also got to taste the different flavours available, wasabi was one of our favourite.
At night, we headed out to Patong beach, saw tonnes of fake bags and made our way back to the ship.
Day 3
There is usually a gala night for every cruise where one is expected to dress up to the nines. This was the day. Beside lunch at Pavilion and snacks at Taverna (Deck 13 – overlooking the pool) we joined in the “Win lose or draw” gameshow and got to make a paper necklace for ourselves! (Proud look).
For dinner, you could choose to go any one of the 3 dedicated restaurants. We chose our dinner to be at the Samurai Restaurant (Deck 8) where we enjoyed the sushi, tempura, beef/chicken tepanyaki. It was a really classy place and guests were treated like VIPs.
We enjoyed Maestro & Music at Lido for the night where dance and music were performed.
Day 4
Too soon, it was day 4 and our last day before we head home to Singapore. Again, we joined in the programme for the day and included Dancexercise (healthy way to get back into shape after all that eating), Box or Bucks ( whereby you answer a question by standing at the correct place. Last person standing wins. Much like million dollar drop just that the person moves instead of the money and people are ‘dropped out’ if they choose to stand at the wrong place. Kate won btw! We received some starcruise vouchers and exchanged them for some souvenirs. Cool…) as well as mini golf!
If you’re looking for hotel stays in Singapore before setting sail, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Singapore right here!
Conclusion
He says: If I can afford it, I would cruise for every holiday to every continent! That’s how enjoyable cruises are!
She says: For the first time, I dont have to plan for the trip and I get to really chill out and relax. With the credit card discount, it was certainly a steal.
So we were deciding which city to go to. Hanoi, the capital city or Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam? In addition, Ho Chi Minh City has the historical war tunnels. However, we decided to go for Hanoi because of its accessibility from the airport as well as the opportunity to visit attractions to its east and west , namely Sapa and Halong Bay.
Introduction
Hanoi is located on the north east of Vietnam. On this trip, we visited Halong Bay (the UNESCO World Heritage Site) to its East and Sapa (350Km northwest of Hanoi). Some rate of conversions when we visited at the end of 2009
1USD = 1.4SGD=18,000VND OR 1SGD=13,000VND (Vietnam Dong)
Average haircut : 250,000 VND for gals
Taxi ride from Hanoi train station to Bat Su St:
50,000 VND (not 100,000 VND!)
Bia Hoi (Beer) at street corner: 6,000 VND for 1 glass (Yes it is really that cheap!)
Pastries: 6,000 VND @ local bakeries (11 Cha Ca St)
Foot massage: USD4 for 30mins (Au Trieu St)
Souvenir magnets: 10,000 VND
Day 1 (Arrival and trip to the Hotel)
The Hanoi Boutique Hotel
We arrive at the Noi Bai Airport (Vietnam) and were greeted by our friendly driver with the sign that says “Hanoi Boutique Hotel : Kate”. Everything was smooth until we got on the car…
1. Max Speed. The car was moving at a maximum speed of 60km/h! No matter how fast it was trying to go or how it was overtaking other cars (can you imagine?) it was still travelling no more than 60km/h. Talk about safety…
2. High Beam and Horn. Everyone seems to be driving with their high beam lights on. The most interesting part was, EVERY car and motorcycle were sounding their horns throughout the journey! Our driver was practically placing his hands on the horns throughout the entire journey!
3. Crossing the road. We witnessed how an old lady crossed the road amidst endless trails of motorcycles. The trick is, to cross at a constant pace. The old lady was walking really really slowly across the road, it didnt seem like she was looking at the on coming traffic at all! The key was, she was moving slowly BUT at a CONSTANT pace. The result? Every oncoming motorcycle was able to predict her path and avoided her altogether! This little observation was put to good use throughout the rest of the trip. You really need this piece of advice, plus some guts, to cross Vietnamese roads.
As we approached the hotel, it really didnt look appealing at all. It looked like a 1 star hotel and the entrance was relatively small. But things started to change as you enter the reception, it was clean and inviting with renovations that looked new. But the surprise really came when we entered the room…
It immediately upgraded to 3 stars! Nicely decorated room, with a balcony view of the streets as well as a plasma tv! The toilet was clean and had toiletries (including towels) readily available. To top it off, WI-FI was free! We turned in early that evening, to the sound of horns on the streets…
Day 2 – Hanoi City, Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Temple of Literature, KOTO – Know One Teach One, One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, Martyr’s Monument, Old East End Gate, Dong Xuan Market, Water Puppet Show, Bag/Shoe Street, City View Cafe
One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem LakeThe City Centre HanoiThe MausoleumThe Old Gate HanoiThe Temple of LiteratureThe Dan Bow player at the water puppet showThe Water Puppeteers HanoiVietnamese Coffee
Soon morning came and we were (not surprisingly) awaken by the sound of the horns. It was nice to breathe the morning air and look out at the balcony, the streets before the hustle and bustle begins. We took breakfast and were pleasantly surprised by the chicken and beef pho that were served. It suited our taste buds well. There were also fruits and fruit juice to go along. Not bad…
We decided to walk towards the museums and Mausoleum (famous structure). Along the way, we stopped for an authentic cup of Vietnam cuppa. For 77cents (abt 50cents USD), we had one of the best coffee we’ve ever drank. It was rich yet wholely Vietnamese with aroma of the coffee with every sip. It was then it dawned upon us….Starbucks has been cheating our $$ all these while!
As we ventured on, we took photos of memorials, statues and a Catholic church. We soon stumbled upon the Mausoleum from a distance and decided to get closer to take some photos. As we got closer, we realised there were some important Korean officials visiting the place and there were literally no one in the vicinity except the police. So happily, as excited tourists, we took out our camera and started shooting. Almost immediately, the whistles started to sound and we were waved to move away from the vicinity! Much like prisoners trying to break out of jail, being whistled at…quite a traumatic experience. So enjoy the pictures that we ‘risked’ our lives for!
Next, we headed for the Ho Chi Minh museum, mainly because we wanted to use the toilet. We paid 15,000VND each to enter the museum. The museum showcased the history of its leader and some of the important milestones and significant events that took place. It also showed pictures of him meeting leaders of various countries at that time.
As we approached the Temple of Literature, it started to rain. We were then approached by locals with ponchos (make shift rain coats) ready with them. Some selling at 18,000VND while others only at 10,000. Because of the rain, we took only photos at the entrance and headed straight for lunch at KOTO (Know One Teach One).
026Lunch at Know One, Teach One027Nice deco at KOTO028Yummy noodles029I love their vermicelli
The KOTO project was really to help children off the streets and to equip them with culinary skills so that they can become self sufficient and provide for themselves by either serving in hotels / restaurants or continue to teach others like themselves. Both Kate and I found this to be a very meaningful project and came by specially to support.
The food was GREAT! We had the roll with beef and prawn as well as the fried beef noodles. Both were delicious and both were authentic Vietnamese. We were very much satisfied, both with the quality of the food as well as with ourselves, being able to help a good cause. We ended off with Bia-hoi (Beer) to wash it all down… 🙂
We ventured back to the city and to the famous Hoan Kiem River where we took photos of the lake as well as the One Pillar Pagoda right smack in the middle of the lake.
Along a foot path recommended by Lonely Planet, we were able to take photos of the Martyr’s monument, Old East End Gate as well as the Dong Xuan Market where daily food supplies can be found. We also passed the black smiths street (whole street of black smiths) before heading to KFC (where else?) for dinner before our much anticipated water puppet show in the evening. This KFC was overlooking the centre of the city (pretty much a roundabout) with the Hoan Kiem Lake as the backdrop. So there’s actually a reason why we chose KFC for dinner….
Soon it was time for us to enter the theatre to watch the water puppet show. The show started with the Dan Bow player playing tunes akin to the chinese Er Hu. It is basically a stringed instrument with only one string. It was said that in the past, it was only played by males and that parents were worried that young girls would be attracted to Dan Bow players because of the enchanting tunes.
The show itself was interesting, with displays of the dragon, phoenix and puppets illustrating the legend. There was even small fireworks towards the end. Here is part of the show…
After the show, the puppeteers revealed themselves as the curtains lifted and they demonstrated (without the curtains) how they were moving the puppets behind the scenes. After the show, Kate and I walked past the shoes and bags street (literally lots of shoes and bags, Kate’s favourite) and we had supper at the City View Cafe. A little ex, but the view of the night was great. We had a pizza and some drinks to wind down the night.
Day 3 – Halong Bay
058On our way to Halong Bay059Ceramics Factory060The bus that took us to the pier061Ourjunk boat062Decent toilet in each room063Rather comfy beds064TOwels and bedroom slippers included065Our room key066Leaving the pier067Crabcake068Rock formation 1069Rock formation 2070Trying an arty shot071Rock formation 3072Rock formation 4073Another junk boat074Rock formation 5075Ti Top Island and Temple on top076Rock Formation 6077Monster’s Mouth078Water families079Entrance to Cave Surprise080Limestone formations 1081Vandalism on the limestone082Like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie083’heart’ formation084’couple’ formation
We started the day early (8:30am) and left on a 3.5 hours bus ride to Halong Bay Harbour. Along the way, we stopped at a ceramics statue exhibit place and had our toilet break there. Coke was ex. $1.5 a can.
We took a small boat to our junk boat. Again, we were pleasantly surprised as we entered our room. It was nicely laid out and looked really cosy, with an unexpectedly clean toilet. We were later led up to the dining hall to have our seafood lunch. Nothing to shout about but it was pleasant.
As our junk boat – Bai Tu Long, went near to the UNESCO heritage site of Halong Bay, we could see little islets popping up. It was real cool. There were many islets that resembled things like a monster’s mouth, a man’s face, horse, a fisherman and lots more. You just have to use some imagination to see them 😉
Our first stop was the Surprise Caves or Hang (Cave) Sung Sot (Surprise). IT was a cave with natural rock formations. Also formed by streams of water. 2 natural formation that was surprising to see, was a couple as well as a heart. The climb up and down the caves was tiring. But the view of Halong Bay from the top was simply amazing, really worth the trip (all 3.5 hours bus ride and boat trip).
Day 4 – 2nd Day at Halong Bay
085I see 2 fishermen chilling out, a rocking horse and a koala bear091Double cave090Have to canoe cuz boat too big089Luon Cave088Breakfast on Day 2087Man’s head islet086’middle finger’
Kate and I woke up early this morning to enjoy the morning breeze as well as the view of the Halong Bay as well as its islets. Of course, we played a game to identify new ‘formations’ using our imagination and we discovered a koala bear, a horse / dog and a middle finger! We then went to the dining hall for an american style breakfast. Ham bread and juice.
The morning’s programme was a canoe trip. If you arent interested, you can opt to just remain on the small boat. Kate and I decided to just laze back on the boat while it took us to the sights. There was an enclosure that we were unable to enter because of the high tide. But we were told that it was a sanctuary inside with birds and vegetation flourishing. The boat also took us in and out of a cave and we saw some unusual formations such as a cave within a cave and the Luon Cave.
In the evening, we left for Sapa and we boarded the overnight train ride King Express Deluxe. Just prior to board, we managed to buy 1 litre of bia hoi (beer) for only 13,000VND or $1!
Day 5 – Sapa, Lao Cai, Cat Cat Village, Victoria Sapa Hotel
093King Express Deluxe094Arriving at Lao Cai after an overnight train ride095One hour bus ride to Sapa096Blurred photos from fast moving bus097Arriving at Sapa098Sapa Global Hotel where we had our meals099Yummy chocolate tart100View from Victoria Sapa Hotel101Roaming chickens102Black pig103Corn hanging out to dry104Living room105Kitchen and toilet106Indigo dye107Weaving machine108Leaf art109Leaf painting110H’Mong kids111Cat Cat waterfall112Scary hanging bridge113Black Pig satay114Another even more scary bridge to bring us back to Sapa115Entrance of Cat Cat village116Itinerary at Sapa117Beefy meal at Sapa Global Hotel118Beautiful room in Victoria Sapa Hotel119Nice toilet with nice ginger toiletries120Huge balcony121View from the hotel122Swimming pool about 100m away from hotel room123Fansipan124Deck chairs and shower points125Very ‘open concept’ bathroom in swimming pool toilet126Clean toilets with rose petals and aromatherapy oil127Indoor heated swimming pool128Pretty deco in the toilet129Drinking Tiger beer in Vietnam130Another yummy meal in Sapa Global Hotel131’Drip’ coffee in cafe132Performance by minority group…guy chasing gal in market133Guy dancing with gal134Bamboo instrument135Everyone dancing together136Another unique instrument
We arrived at about 5am in the morning at Lao Cai train station. There we caught a transfer bus to Sapa which was about an hour. We arrived at the Sapa Global Hotel and we had our breakfast there. Breakfast was nice and simple. But what caught our attention was the magnificent view of Fansipan mountain. The temperature had dipped to between 15-20 degrees so it was nice and cooling with surreal views of the mountains. Chillax.
Shortly after, we were introduced to our guide Chi for the day and she took us on a “lite” trekking trip. It was actually quite a trek! But before long, we reached Cat Cat village where we had some black pig satay (barbeque) and saw a small waterfall. We entered the village and ventured into a H’mong villager’s abode. It had a stench and there were corns overhanging at the ceiling. It was dark and litted only by the sun light. We saw some dyes for indigo and played some of the traditional musical instruments. Kate tried the weaving machine while we both tried to push a corn grinding machine. It was tough work.
After a short trek, we were back at the Sapa Global Hotel where we had our lunch. We were then driven to our hotel. Victoria Sapa Hotel. IT was a 5 star hotel (well at least to us). It had a marvellous view of a man-made lake and views of Fansipan Mountain as well. The room was spacious, with a bath tub and a balcony. The hotel also has a heated pool with nice views of lawned greenery. Sort of like a paradise right in the heart of Sapa.
We ended of the night with dinner at the restaurant and there was also a traditional performance of dance, music and singing by the H’mong people.
Day 6 – Lao Chai, Tu Van Village, Trekking
137Roof top chillax area in Victoria Sapa Hotel138Good place to enjoy the scenery and fresh air139Fansipan mountain in the background140Yummy pho!141Busy Sunday Sapa Market142Busy street143Black coffee, milo and milk144On the way to Lao Chai Village145Villagers in Lao Chai146Bird’s eye view of Lao Chai147Treacherous slopes148Rice fields149Muddy pathway150More treacherous slopes!151Old bridge152New bridge153Rice milk wine making machine154Entrance to Ta Van village155Villagers take turns to help each other build houses
We spent this day trekking to home of the H’mong, Lao Chai and Tu Van Village. First off, we would like to warn all potential visitors that this trek is not for the faint of heart and can be treacherous at some points.
The trek takes you down into the valley, home of the H’mong and crossing some dangerous terrain. At one point, we were thinking hard to ourselves, why were we ACTUALLY RISKING OUR LIVES to see the village? There was one point where a false step would literally lead to our fall of death. Thank the Lord, we arrived safely!
Having said that, we have to mention that the views were fantastic. We also visited the Tu Van village, home to the Giay (pronounced at Tzai) people. It was nice to walk among these friendly people. After a day of trekking, both Kate and I had sore toes…
Day 7 – Chillax, Foot Massage
156View from Lucky cafe157Chill out alfresco dining at Lucky cafe158More pho bo and pho ga159Coconut pie160Triple Decker Club sandwich and 1 litre beer at Legends Beer161Monument of King Le Thai To162Roadside fried food stuff…meat roll and prawn roll163Magnolia cafe across Hanoi Boutique Hotel164Magnolia special instant noodles165Pork fried in honey and onion166Breakfast at hotel…Passionfruit juice and pho ga167Yummy pastries at only 6000VND each!168Roadside Bun Ca for 20,000VND
This day, we spent just hanging out at various joints and trying all the local street foods. We tried various fried spring rolls, fish noodles, pho and french pastries. Especially enjoyed the pastries as they were fluffy and flavourful. The street fried foods were tasty too (think all fried foods are).
We then headed to a massage parlour for foot massage. It only cost 4USD for 30 minutes! We also tried beer at Legends Beer (Expensive) and had dinner at our favourite Magnolia Cafe just across the street.
Day 8 – Going Home
169Banana and sweet potato fritters…2 for 10,000VND170Roadside fritters stall171Same meat roll but square shape and aunty sold it for 10,000VND!!!172Sunset on the way to Noi Bai airport
Before heading home, Tom had a haircut for 40,000VND and we had more street foods including fried meat dumplings, banana and sweet potato fritters.
Conclusion
It was a very fruitful trip to just experience the Vietnamese culture and its friendly people. There were so many things to see and do and the food was simply amazing. It was worth every cent of it and we will definitely visit Vietnam again.
He says: Cheap beer, nice views, good food, what else can I ask for?
She says: Crossing the streets can be challenging, remember our tip right at the start of this post. Walk at a constant pace! I enjoyed the view of Halong Bay, Mount Fansipan and the village in the valley. Cannot be experienced else where.
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Nowadays, “staycation” (the combination of stay and vacation – meaning to stay in one’s country to have a vacation) is very popular in Singapore, given the rising number of chic hotels and new establishments sprouting in many corners all over Singapore.
So Kate and I decided to do so as well. We took our pick to stay at the newly constructed Hard Rock Hotel at Sentosa (Resorts World Sentosa, RWS). There are several hotels now in Resorts World Sentosa, namely, Festive Hotel, Hotel Michael, Crockfords Tower (by invitation only) as well as Hard Rock Hotel.
Introduction about Sentosa
Sentosa was formerly known as Pulau Blakang Mati which translates directly as Island, Behind, Dead otherwise known as the Island of the dead. However, in 1972, Sentosa was mooted to become a popular tourist destination and was renamed Sentosa, meaning, “Peace and Tranquility”.
The island is just located 0.5km south of the main island and is now connected via cable car, a link bridge as well as Sentosa pedestrian board walk.
The Sentosa board walk has now several ‘hang out’ places like the Queens (with happy hour drinks and cakes), Venezia (Italian ice cream), Wine Company and a crepes shop. Also you can shop at the Frangipani Creations (theme of frangipani for bags, hair pins, paintings) and a Sentosa souvenir shop.
Admission to Sentosa Island
If you are staying at one of the hotels at Sentosa, admission is usually complimentary. What you would need to do is to check with your hotel on how to gain complimentary entry into the island. This differs slightly from hotels on the island itself and hotels in RWS (Resorts World Sentosa).
By Foot/Walking ($1)
To gain entry via the new boardwalk, it is only $1 per person to enter and you get to enjoy a nice little walk, about 5-7 minutes along the newly constructed boardwalk.
Sentosa broadwalk
By Sentosa Express ($3)
The Sentosa express is the new monorail that transits all across the island of Sentosa and back to the main island at Vivocity (a shopping mall). This ride costs $3.
Sentosa Monorail
By Car
The rates for entry can be found on the website of Sentosa and it is usually cheaper to car pool and go into the island as a group. If you are driving into RWS like we did, remember to keep left as you enter the roads to Sentosa. If you are driving into Hard Rock (near the convention centre), keep left again.
Driving via the bridge that connects to Sentosa
Once you are on the island, all buses and monorail rides are free. Yup, even if you paid only $1 to enter via the boardwalk!
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa
We first checked into our room at Hard Rock Sentosa. It was located on the top floor, overlooking the entire pool area.
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Lift LobbyCouch in Hard Rock Hotel RoomHard Rock Hotel Sentosa RoomHard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room 2Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room:FLat Screen TV with surround sound system
The pool is one of the best things about Hard Rock Hotels. It is always a surprise for me to see how chill the Hard Rock Pool is and this pool didn’t disappoint. Check out this video of the pool!
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Singapore and swimming pool
The pool at the Hard Rock Hotel consists of so many segments. From my memory, I can recall an infinity pool (or lap pool), a children’s play area (complete with water guns, fountains and a slide), a jacuzzi, a lazy pool, a pool by the bar, as well as, you’ve guessed it, the beach pool complete with soft white Australian-imported sand!
Resorts World Sentosa
After lazying in the pool for a while, we decided to grab some dinner at Vivocity. Each room at the Hard Rock is entitled to 2 parking tickets as well as monorail tickets on the Sentosa Express (unlimited rides from Sentosa to Vivo for 3 consecutive days once activated). As we ventured out, we took some of these pictures.
Sentosa in the eveningThe Queen at The Sentosa BroadwalkDeco at The QueenStrawberry tiramisu with wine at The Queen
After dinner, we decided to chill out at one of the new restaurants along the boardwalk. We had some wine and shared a strawberry tiramisu. The food was ok, but the nice laidback music accompanied by views of RWS more than made up for it. We wanted to catch the animatronics Crane Dance show (9pm), but to our horror, it was under repairs! So we headed for the 9:30pm fountain show at the Lake of Dreams.
We did catch the crane dance animatronics some time before and here it is
There is nothing much to say about the show except, DO NOT GO! Please view our video that we painstakingly recorded for you (for you to fast forward) so that you can save 15 minutes of your precious time. Towards the end of the show, many people started to walk away (hence you see many movements in the video at the end). The show ended without a finale or whatsover. It just faded out…it has to be one of the worst fountain shows ever.
Sentosa Day Play Pass
On the second day, we decided to go for the day play pass and it was a fruitful 10 hours. The day play pass is a packaged deal where you pay $63.90/Adult , $47.90/Child (Weekdays) and $69.90/Adult, $51.90/child (Weekends) to enjoy 13 attractions from 9am to 7pm. It is really worth it because you get to cover:
1. Fort Siloso
2. Bi-Pedal Bicyle (1 hr)
3. Segway Fun Ride (Beginner’s practice and trail)
4. The Flying Trapeze
5. Skyline Luge (with 1 skyride) OR Unlimited Skyrides
6. Images of Singapore
7. Sentosa 4D Magix
8. Sentosa Nature Discovery
9. Sentosa Cineblast
10. Desperados
11. Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom
12. Tiger Sky Tower
13. The Merlion
But to complete all the attractions (which we almost did), you have to plan your time properly to avoid the crowd. So we suggest you cover like we did!
Images of Singapore
Initially, we wanted to start off our day at the 4D magix, Cineblast as well as Desperados. However, on the way up, we realised that Images of Singapore was already opened. So the first stop was here
Images of Singapore SentosaImages of Singapore Video partMid Autumn Festival aka Mooncake Festival
It was a pleasant surprise because we really didn’t think the Images of Singapore would be such a huge place. It will probably take perhaps 1-2 hours if you read all the information. The whole museum is full of figurines, statues and displays. It depicts how Singapore came about (with the discovery of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles – Nowadays the brand Raffles is associated with everything high class or “Atas” as we would say) and how we thrived from a small fishing village to the cosmopolitan city we are today. Certainly worth visiting.
It is good to start off the day at the rides and movies because the queues would usually pick up and you will be wasting precious time queuing. When we reached there, we were first for all the rides and shows! Yay!
Cineblast
Price chart for Pirates, Extreme Log Ride and DesperadosEntrance to Extreme Log ride
We first went for the Extreme Log Ride. It was very realistic! One of the best 3D rides I have been on. It brings you through Himalaymazon. You’ve heard me right! Not the Himalayas nor the Amazon. Haha…not for the faint-hearted though.
Desperados
Desperados Sentosa
Desperados is a 3D shooting game whereby you are an assistant to the Sheriff and to take out the bad guys. You are seated on a saddle that moves according to the game. Holding on to the pistol with one hand and the saddle with the other, you have 2 rounds of trying to top the score. Enjoyed this one as well. Try to shoot well, else your face would be flashed across the screen as a bobo shooter…
4D Magix – Pirates
Kate and I have been to 4D shows previously and this was nothing new. Basically a 15 minutes show with 4D effects like wind blown by your ears, water sprinkling at you, in your face bees and insects crawling from under your seats. Yup, all the effects accompanied by the 3D movie. Enjoy!
Skyline Luge (with 1 skyride) OR Unlimited Skyrides
Luge and Skyride SentosaWaiting to do the Luge rideYay! Did the Luge at Sentosa!
Next, we went for the Luge. We didnt know at first that the Luge Ride came with 1 skyride. Still, we chose the Luge. So from Imbiah, we Luged down to the beach. The new trail, Dragon Trail just completed construction not long ago and it was an exciting, winding ride. The slogan is true : Once is never enough. But we had another attractions to enjoy.
Oilio cafe at Imbiah SentosaChicken Chop spaghettiFish & Chips
We were there shortly after lunch, so we beat the crowd and waited only about 5 minutes. Lunch was cheap (@Olio Bites considering prices at Sentosa) and good. We had spaghetti and Fish & Chips. Yum. Enjoy the thrilling Luge!
Segway Fun Ride
Beach Tram Sentosa
After the Luge, we wanted to rent the bicycle and ride into Fort Siloso. However, we were dismayed to find that we couldn’t and we were stopped at the tram station at the entrance of Fort Siloso. So we had to cycle back to return our bikes and head back to Fort Siloso. There were 2 guided tours that day (12.30pm and 3.30pm) but when we finally got back to Fort Siloso, we realised that we just missed the first guided tour! So we were advised by the friendly staff of Sentosa to complete Segway first, which we did.
Segway Crew who will help you familiarise with the Segway
We waited a short while before it was our turn. As with the Luge, you would have to don the helmet provided. The first practice session was basically to familiarise yourself with the Segway. The instructor would tell you how to move ahead, backwards and left/right by leaning your body (forwards/backwards) and tilting the handles to the desired direction. It was quite easy actually. But you would be envious when you see the instructors being able to move fast and drift! They would then ask you to ride towards a tree, go round it, and return back to the instructor.
Segway Circuit Sentosa
The trail is much like a garden walk. On the Segway, it was over in 5 minutes. But it was still fun to go at a leisure speed and try to traverse small humps and engage slopes upwards and downwards. Overall, it was a nice refreshing albeit “risky” experience.
Sentosa Nature Discovery
Sentosa Nature DiscoveryPretty flowers in the afternoon sun
We also attended the guided tour here. This area is basically free but with the guided tour, it makes the visit extra educational. The tour covered the types of trees and animals/birds that may be encountered and includes a short treetop/canopy walk. Nature lovers would enjoy this one.
Fort Siloso
At the start of the Fort Siloso tourBritish surrendering to the Japanese
Fort Siloso is a museum at Sentosa that covers the defence of Singapore during the colonial and WW2 era. It was really worthwhile to hear the stories that the guide had, and to learn about how it was like during the pre-war and war era.
The tour covered the guns, surrender chambers, life during WW2 under Japanese occupation and the surrender of Japanese back to the allied forces.
This is a really good tour (about an hour or so) for those who are interested in history and WW2. You can board the bus for the tour either at Imbiah or at the entrance of Fort Siloso. It departs slightly earlier, do check with the friendly staff for the exact timings.
The Merlion
Sentosa MerlionMerlion Park Sentosa
As we entered, we were given a token at the entrance. It was a gold coin. We were then ushered into a small theatre to watch a short clip of how the “Merlion” came about. After the movie, we dropped our coin into one of the many merlions at the entrance of the lift and exchanged for a gift card. You can then claim your gift at the souvenier shop as you exit the Merlion.
We went to level 10 where the teeth of the Merlion was. We caught several shots here.
Stairs from the mouth of the Merlion to the headView Through the Merlion’s teethThe cyclone (view from the merlion)View from the merlion’s head
There was also a staff there ready to take a picture for you. After that, we went to the top of the Merlion. The view was spectacular. It covered the whole of Sentosa, including the rides and castle at the Universal Studios, the hotels at Resorts World, a golf course, the cable car ride, the sky tower. Over the distance, we could see our Central Business District (the CBD) as well as views of the ocean and our world famous sea port. Take a look at this video!
We took the lift and exited the Merlion. We were directed to exchange our gift cards for a souvenir and we got 2 hand held fans with Merlion imprinted on it.
Tiger Sky Tower
Tiger TowerTiger Gondola
Our last stop was the Tiger Sky Tower. It wasn’t our first time but we still enjoyed the spectacular views that it offered. Enjoy these pictures!
Harbourfront from the Tiger TowerMerlion from the Tiger TowerRasa Sentosa from the Tiger TowerReflections at the Bay and Keppel Club from the Tiger TowerSkyride from the Tiger TowerView from the Tiger TowerView of Sea from the Tiger TOwerSunset view from the Tiger Tower
Dinner @ Ramenplay
We went back to the hotel and lazed in the pool again before heading out for dinner. We wanted to catch the butterfly park but missed it as it was closed at 6:30pm. We had visited the one in Cameron Highlands before, so not much regrets there. We missed the trapeze because we aren’t that adventurous. For those who have tried it, do leave a comment on how it went!
We decided to stay in Sentosa for dinner and we ate at Ramenplay. There was a deal with DBS cards. If you order 2 mains, you’d receive a plate of 2 fried meat balls (Dango). The ramen was good. Remember to order the one that comes with the pork broth because it is simmered for a long time to achieve that taste. The meat was generous and the ramen was Q (also known as springy). The Unagi hot pot was not fantastic, but the unagi itself was delicious. Though a little bit on the expensive side, the meal was thoroughly satisfying. We also ordered the bamboo chicken and Chicken/Leek Yakitori to complete the meal. Yum.
Bamboo chicken RamenplayChicken and Leek Yakitori RamenplayYummy ramen at Ramen PlayYummy Unagi from Ramenplay
Overall, it was an excellent staycation and we enjoyed all the attractions that Sentosa has to offer with the Day Play Pass. Go stay in the hotels at Resorts World Sentosa while they are still new and nice!
So we caught the overnight seater and arrived early on Saturday morning. It was about 5 am and the bus was already ascending the Cameron Highlands. At about 6:30am, we reached the town and were given the short break to have our breakfast. We had our usual fill (2nd time to Cameron) of Wan Ton noodles and hopped back to the bus where they took us to our hotel – Strawberry Park Hotel
Strawberry Park Hotel
I used to think that the Strawberry Park Hotel either grows strawberries or is very near a strawberry garden. Neither of which was there. However, it is a quaint hotel with french architecture. It really just offers tranquility and peace of mind when you enter the hotel.
The hotel seemed a little old on the outside. But as we entered the rooms, it offered a whole new perspective to us. The view from the balcony offered lush greenery while the entrance of our room had views of the highland.
The bed was big and comfy. The best part of it was that the bathroom was HUGE. The bathtub was located right in the middle with showers and toilet located behind. Facilities include a playground as well as an indoor heated pool. It was really clean and offered “country-club” like facilities at the bathrooms. The pool stared out at the garden and was a good place to chillax.
We quickly unpacked and headed out for our first stop – Ee Feng Bee Centre
Ee Feng Bee Centre
We joined a mini tour from our tour agency – Titiwangsa. The driver took us to Ee Feng Bee Centre and we were given free time ourselves to roam about. We were able to have up close view of the bees while the bees busied themselves with gathering of the pollen.
Butterfly Garden
The next stop was the butterfly garden. It was an interesting experience as it was the first time that I saw so many butterflies all in an enclosure. There were in fact so many of them that many were just crawling all over the floor. Be careful not to step on them! We also saw a koi feasting on one of them…ew…
Next, the guide at the butterfly garden took us to see some exotic insects. They included stick insects (really have to stare hard to locate them), lizards as well as scorpions! The pictures will show you the guide ‘playing’ with the scorpion and placing it on other tourists.
Strawberry Garden
There are several strawberry gardens in the highlands and the next stop was at one of them. There was a choice of picking strawberries with a given fee. Kate and I were not keen to eat that many strawberries, so we settled for a yummy strawberry milk shake and bought some jams as well. It was nice to observe the strawberry as well as its flowers in its natural form. The guide even teach you how to correctly pluck the strawberries.
Rose Centre
The Rose Centre should be biggest exhibit on show. There are so many kinds of flowers and cacti here. We spotted several unique flowers like the horse-shoe flower as well as the “butterfly” petals (you have to take 2 of it to form a butterfly)
Roses were blossoming prettily and the sunflowers were as large as the palm of my hand! We also climbed to the viewing point and had a spendid view of the city. Warning : The climb can be exhausting.
T-Cafe
In the evening, we took a stroll down the hills to the town nearby to enjoy desserts at T-cafe (located above Marybrown). We ordered Tom Yam Bee Hoon and Claypot Kway Teow as mains. Apple juice and mango lassi as drinks. They were quite enjoyable, but what we were really after was the dessert. We ordered the chocolate cake which was rich and creamy, the apple pie that was how an apple pie should be, as well as the strawberry scone, a nice addition to the meal.
We went to the cab stand nearby and took a short ride back. Literally because the driver was a hell-rider who charged at every curve on the way back. We had to hold on to our seats as we swayed side to side. We were back within 4 minutes flat.
Breakfast
Breakfast at Strawberry Park Hotel was enjoyable. The chef made prata fresh on the spot. Each time he serves his lot, the guests would clear it. I had to order several in advance. They were crispy yet delectable. Together with the curry, it was a oh so awesome!
Kuala Lumpur City
We then proceeded for the next part of our trip to KL city. We stayed at the Swiss Garden Hotel and were presently surprised by its stylish contemporary deco. We ventured out to the city in the evening but encountered a short downpour. So we hid ourselves at Nando’s and had unlimited drinks with a spicy mango burger.
The rain subsided and we began shopping nearby. Soon it was time for dinner and we had claypot rice as well as some satay. Street hawker food is still the best!
The next day, we ventured out to KLCC and had an excellent view of the Petronas Towers (See slide show). There was also opportunity to shop at KLCC as well as the surroundings. We rounded off the evening with more hawker food such as popiah and char kway teow.
He says : I particularly enjoyed the fresh air of the highlands. It is so relaxing just to breathe in the fresh air and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. Views of the Petronas Towers were also magnificent up close.
She says: I love the cheap malaysian street food and the shopping!!!
