Singapore - A Day Trip

Please take note that I started writing this yesterday 26th November and I can only get it posted today. So all days and dates are in reference to November 26th. Sorry!

Our youngest is working in Singapore and her 21st birthday is tomorrow. She was not able to come home to celebrate it with us because of her work commitment so yesterday we went to be with her and celebrated her 21st birthday in Singapore.

Our trip was partially paid for by one of the casino and theme park operator in Singapore. They contracted a travel company in Malacca to ferry people to their casino and theme park daily for free on week days and a very minimal amount on weekends. This is not made know publicly but just spread by word of mouth and my wife managed to catch it.

Yesterday I was up at 5:00am, still very sleepy together with my wife and eldest daughter we made our way to the pickup point to wait for the bus. We were early and luckily it was not raining.


About 6:00am ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

We were at the second pick up point and after a short while the bus arrived. I was surprised that the bus was already almost full when we got in and it made another stop to pick up the last few passengers which filled up the last few seats.

I was back in dreamland soon after that and was awakened when the bus stopped. Another pickup? Peering out the window I noticed that there was another bus just beside us, hmm "where are we? Already 7:30am and looks like we had stopped somewhere in the middle of nowhere!" I thought to myself.


Bus "Stop" ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

Reluctantly I got up and followed the crowd with Becky and my daughter following behind. Once out of the bus I realized that we were at a rest place like a truck stop in the United States, the different is that only tour buses stop here and the tour guides and bus drivers get to eat free...I think!


Tourist standard food court! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

We did not eat here because we already had breakfast before we left our home and the food was not appetizing ... tourist grade I would say!!! We just wandered around a little to stretch our legs. Soon we were on our journey again with lots of chattering after the passengers had recharged themselves from a hearty breakfast I guess.

About two hours later we arrived at the Malaysian side of the border and after having our passport checked we proceed on to Singapore.


Border Crossing ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Singapore's Immigration and Custom complex. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


In Singapore ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

You know you are in Singapore when the signs are in understandable English. Not having been to Singapore for more than 10 years, it felt pleasant to be in Singapore again.

After having done the formalities we were on our way to our destination which took us about 20~30 minutes. Upon arrival we have to go through a head count before we were being allowed to go where we want and do what we want. Most of them made a beeline to the casino and we met up with the birthday girl.


Money eating place! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Concourse outside the casino ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

Had a quick discussion, decided where we wanted to go and we were off to the city using the Mass Rapid Transport.


Leaving Sentosa Island ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


A Cruise Ship ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Orchard Road ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

As usual Orchard Road it is, I guess almost all if not all tourist to Singapore will definitely visit Orchard Road.


Crowded. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

As usual there were people everywhere.


Lunch time ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Garlic Toast ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Onion Soup ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Beef Carpaccio ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

Yummie!!! My very first time and loving it!!!


Some kind of Pork Burger ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Funghi Risotto ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Some kind ofCheese Ravioli ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Birthday Girl ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

The desert is on the house for the birthday girl only!


Christmas sales? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Christmas Shoppers??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


Most Photographed Decoration ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

I think this is the most photographed decoration because everytime I passed it there were some people posing and having their photos taken.


Ice cream man ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

Haven't seen this in ages!!!


Santa here too??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )


More Christmas decoration ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

It was Christmasy everywhere in Orchard road because it was already decorated for Christmas and I wished that it would snow instead of rain!!!

Soon it was time to head back to Sentosa Island where the casino and theme park is to catch our ride home. Even though the time was short, we were all glad to have had spent this precious time with our birthday girl.


On the way home. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )

We know we were back in Malaysia when the signboards cannot be understood!!!

A Very Long Over due Holiday

The journey was long to our destination with lots of waiting. Our flight was at 10:30pm we left our home at 2:00pm ...... airport is only about 132km .... nevertheless we were all looking forward to the trip.


To The Airport 
Our ride to the airport-Express Bus.


Our ride to Bangkok 
Our ride to Bangkok - Lufthansa

After having spent more than 10 hours travelling both on land and air, we were really glad that my friends were waiting for us at the airport to pick us up. It was about 6 years ago when we last met so there were lots of catching up to do and by the time we went to bed it was already past 3:00am .... yawn!!!


Overhead wires 
Looks like the messy overhead wires will always be a feature of Bangkok.


Idols 
These idols is a very common sight all over Bangkok city.


"Wu Kok" or Yam Dumpling 
These are yummie unlike those back home which are very oily.


Veggies 
Veggies for the steam boat.


Spring roll 


Pork Dumpling with salted egg yoke. 
These are yummie too and is made in the shape of a lotus leaf.



Roast Duck and Pork 
This is really GOOD!!!


Green noodle with baby pork ribs.
Delicious.


A very famous Thai local seafood restaurant. 


The restaurant interior. 
This restaurant is built on stilts over the Chao Phraya river.


A sweet savoury appetizer 
Those bird eye chilis are for the extra kick!!!


Curry crab 
This is really GOOD!!!


Some kind of sprout 
Delicious.


Oyester egg omelette 
The egg is fluffy and the oyester is juicy ... WOW!!! This is fantastic.


Prawns with some kind of Thai sauce. 
Yummie!!!


Rice Cake 
The rice is crunchy and the dip is wonderful!!!


Traditional Thai soup "Tom yam"
It is mildly sourish, sweet and spicy, a very unique taste.


Thai salt baked sea-bass 
The fish is fully of it's natural flavours and the flesh texture is just perfect.


Mango with sticky rice 
A very popular and original Thai desert, the mango is wonderful.

Having been to Bangkok many times in the past for business, meals are always confine to hotels or restaurants. For this trip I was determine to try out the street food. After consulting with my friends about eating street food, they totally rejected my request. They said that street food is only for locals and localised foreigners. As a alternative they suggested that we try the food court in the shopping mall which is much more hygenic.


Array of deserts. 
Too many to try but it did made me salivate


Our choice 
The one below the two bowls are made of rice flour and mung bean paste. The bowl on the left is durian with sticky rice with some coconut milk amd ice-shaving. The one on the right is water chestnut coated with glutinous rice flour with ice chips and coconut milk. They are all sweet and yummie.


Oyester Egg Omelette 
Food court style oyester egg omelette .... just couldn't get enough of this!!! yum-yum!!!


Braised pork with eggs 
Braised all parts of porks with eggs ... mmm... awesome!!!


Mung bean paste coated with rice flour 
Sweet delight ....


Original Thai public transport - Tuk-Tuk 
Need to get somewhere fast?


Chao Phraya river cat fish 

Catfish feeding on bread slices.
Feeding frenzy - Just throw a piece of bread and this is what you'll see!!!


Long Tail Boat 
The long tail boat is used for taking tourist and passengers into the large network of canals to see the other part of Bangkok, sometimes Bangkok is also known as Venice of the east.


River Taxi 
I would call this a River Bus instead of taxi, very convenient means of transport to avoid the traffic jams.


Street food 
Pickled or fresh raw seafood ready to eat in Chinatown ... did not try it for fear of bad after effects... looks good though.


Madam Tussauds 
With Manchester United ... Oops!!! err ... I forgot his name sorry I'm not a soccer person


Tawandang German Brewery 
Great Place, Delicious Food, Smooth Beer and Great Entertaintment!


In house brewed beer 
A beer tube.


Cheers!!! 
Cheers!!! Let the fun begin!!!


Sashimi prawn, oyester and calamari
Love the oyesters and the prawns!


Blood cockles with rice noodles
Wrap the blood cockle and rice noodles in the lettuce leaf with some of the special sauce ... it's awesome, really good!!!


Fried rice with salted fish 
Good.


water convolvulus 
Another way of preparing water convolvulus, interesting just like crunchy noodles.


Tom yam 
Tomyam only taste good in Thailand.


Deep fried sea bass 
Nice crispy and juicy.


German pork knuckle 
A must have in a German restaurant even though it is localised. Yummie!!!


Sticky rice balls in ginger syrup


Some kind of fruit 
Sorry can't remember what is this desert but it was nice.


Green mango 
Unripe mango are sweet in Thailand.


Papaya salad 
Refreshing


Braised pork belly with preserved veggie. 
A Chinese dish and I love it!!!


The entertainer 
Let the show begin!!!


Modern Traditional Dance 
The live entertainment went on for about 3 hours with only a very short break.


Let's boogie!!! 
Doing the YMCA!!!


Floating Market 
A Floating Traffic Jam!


Floating Market 
A practice that had been around for a vry very long time!


Floating Hawker 
Meals on boat ... river food


Craftsman at work 

Teak wood carving 
A very intricate piece of work about 10X3 feet.


Hundreds of mini elephants 


Elephant show 

Elephant show 
The elephant show is base on the history of how the elephants were first domesticated and their uses.


Crocodile show. 
Scary!!!


Hehehe!!! 
I caught one still eating a hand!


Salad 
It's Italian night.


Bread 
Yes bread.


Mozzarella on beef tomato 
Buffalo mozzarella on beef tomato slices ... yummie!!!


Cheese pizza with arrow leaves

Seafood pizza 

Bacon and ham pizza 


Squid ink spaghetti 
It is delicious if you don't get sting by the super hot chili. A strong reminder that you are still in Thailand. Wow the chili was hot!!!


Roasted pork ribs 
Nice.


Cheese Cake 

Tiramisu 
Nice deserts.


Fried glass noodle 
This is goooood!!!


Green curry with rice noodles
Yummie!!!


Chicken curry noodle 


Fresh Juice 


Durians and mangos 

Durians Galore 
In Malaysia the durians is an aroma to many and a repulsive oudour to some but in Thailand, it is smelless unless really close up. It is still delicious to eat.


Pork noodles 

Beef noodles 

Pork tripe soup 

Pork ball and pork noodles 

Pomelo salad 
All yummie!!!

Food from a Thai bistro

Seafood food spaghetti 
Dangerous if eaten without checking for the chilis but tasty.


Spaghetti carbonara 
Safe and delicious.


Pork burger 
A all American favourite.


Salad. 
Some kind of salad with a Thai touch.


Rack of lamb 
Nice.


Cucumber tree 
Usually they have carrots and celery too.


Bacon 

Sausages 
I call these Russian roulette sausages. Yes I was shot with a super powerful chili and I wasn't able to speak for quite awhile ..... OUCH!!!


Thai gnomes??? 
Friends of Frank


Handmade figurine 
This restaurant is housed in a bungalo house in the city of Bangkok which to a very rich family. They are staying in the same compound but in a seperate house which is very much newer. The food here is very authentic.


A squirrel 
A resident of the restaurant garden.


Fish cake 


Prawn with glass noodles. 


Pineapple fried rice. 
This is goood!!!


DIY Salad 
A DIY dish, just use a lettuce leaf and put in a little of this and that. Good!!!


Green curry 
Awesome!!!


Deep fried sea bass 
Deep fried sea bass slices in some delicious Thai sauce.


Cashew nut cake 
The cake is steamed and it is a good combination.


A Clock in the reasturant 
A anti-clockwise clock.


Bangkok Airport 
The days seemed to have zoomed by us real fast as each and everyday we were spoilt rotten by our host. With great reluctance we were once again in the airport to start our long and dreary journey home after having such a fantastic and wonderful time.


Airborne in Bangkok 
Bye bye Bangkok.

A very big THANK YOU to the Maks, our very special host who made our long awaited holiday such a beautiful experience .... ขอบคุณมาก.