Short stay at Sentosa
Sentosa is quickly becoming our weekend getaway choice. We’re back again at Rasa Sentosa (2nd stay) and just having a quick lunch at Silver Shell Cafe.
Planning to catch Up 3d in awhile and a walk via Imbiah’s 11th new attraction (after last week’s botanic garden visit, we’re in the nature mood!).
Musings: drive fireworks Kukup Malaysia Travel weekend
by michael
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Drive to Kukup for dinner n fireworks
About a hour and quarter drive from Singapore is the coastal village Kukup in Malaysia. This would be our 2nd trip there in recent years (July 2007) but this time would be shorter since we were just planning on good food and some fireworks fun. Getting to Kukup is pretty easy since there is only one direct route via Tuas second link and then heading up to Pontian Kechil and then back south to Kukup. You can’t miss the signs on the way. We also passed by Gelang Patah where we had dined at “Restoran Tian Lai” on July 19th.
After setting off at, we hit immigration at around 5.15pm and both cars set off towards the village. The ride was uneventful via the rather well maintained country roads (mostly single lane) and we reached our destination at around 6.30pm. Parking (I think it was RM $4) is very convenient with a small bus that will take you to the village centre (5-10 min walk).
Ig recommended Ah Keong’s food as he had been here recently and we settled in to order a sumptious meal of fried bee hoon, stewed fish and crayfish. Crabs was unfortunately not available but the last dish of steamed prawns more than made up for it. Total bill was approx RM $225 which was pretty decent.
The other aim of the trip was to set off some fireworks. After some negotiation, we trooped off to find a corner to set off some explosive fun. Video below shows the highlights after some minor technical difficulties getting a good sequence (most of us were noobs at this).
About to board HSR to Kaohsiung
About to board HSR to Kaohsiung
Musings: Shi Lin Night Market Taipei Taiwan Travel Xi Men Ding
by michael
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Day 1 Singapore to Taipei
0750 : We got to Terminal 1 @ Changi Airport quite early and proceeded to get our boarding pass. T1 compared to the new T3 really feels quite old.
This is the first time our whole family has travelled together since 2002 China Trip(before my sis and myself got married)! This time round, we have baby Celeste along with us.
The plane trip (via China Airlines) was pretty smooth with some turbulence reaching Taipei. With my third visit, everything seems just as it is with the only difference being this would be summer and the weather would pretty much be similar to Singapore.
Celeste was great throughout her first plane trip with her usual curiosity in everything. The trip to our hotel (booked via Chan Brothers) at Hotel Riverview Taipei took slightly less than an hour since traffic was pretty good. This was a short 10 minutes walk to Xi Men Ding although I preferred Wonstar which we stayed during the last trip for its nicer rooms.
1820 : After a quick drop of our luggage, we proceeded to Xi Men Ding to take a quick walk around. On route, there was a road side stall selling Onion Pancakes (yh loves them) next to a cinema.
Since we were in Xi Men Ding, we had to try the famous Ah Zhong Mian Xian. This delightful soup noodle is great to have in all seasons! We got shared 2 bowls between my parents and ourselves.
1920 : My sis, bro-in-law and Celeste went off to find a place more suitable to have dinner while parents, yh and myself headed down to Shi Lin night market.
While we were there, we had to try Hao Da Ji Pa (fried chicken cutlet) which I never miss out on since tasting it in 2003! Of course, we also made sure to cool off with a bowl of mango shaved ice while my parents had a mixed fruit. See my dad enjoy the cold milk syrup shaved ice in the hot summer.
The crowds in the summer was even more than I remembered during the winter period. Seems everyone enjoyed taking a stroll past the various roadside stalls selling all manners of food stuff and clothing.
The illegal hawkers also displayed their wares in easy to display (and pack up) mats/ or tables which quickly disappeared into the alleys when the police came patrolling. The crowds would just cover up the gaps as if nothing had happened. We also passed by a shop where Yh had bought a bag in 2006 although nothing really caught her eye this time round. Since the night was still young, we split up on the way back when my parents wanted to explore Xi Men Ding further. We went and caught a movie “Blood : The Last Vampire” (our first in Taipei) near the onion pancake stall. Movie was below average and very cheesy effects. By the time we reached back to our hotel, it was about midnight and we turned in for a early day to Yang Ming Shan.
Arrival at terminal 1
Arrival at terminal 1
Musings: holiday Kaoshiung Musings national service Taipei Taiwan Travel
by michael
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Counting down to Taiwan Trip and Not that looking forward to First ICT!
Going to be off to Taiwan with family for a couple of days. Taipei and Kaohsiung are on the agenda so will need to start planning where to head off to. This will be our 3rd visit to Taipei and 2nd to Kaohsiung.
On more serious note, going to be heading for first ICT (in camp training) right after I get back from the trip. Guess my unit finally caught up with me! Will be back to familiar grounds in the West so just like good old/bad? times.
Day 2 – Uneventful Trip to Chatuchak Market
After breakfast, we took some time to do a little market research with the tour agents around our apartment. Various agents quoted us from 1k to 600 baht per person for a half-day trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (situated 110 kms west of Bangkok). We decided in the end to charter a private bus from First Hotel at a more reasonable rate and included a trip to Ayutthya Province for Day 3 and 4.
Since we had some time for the morning, we took a walk out to BTS Ratchathewi and headed for BTS Mo Chit intending to have a go at Chatuchak before we were too tired on the weekend. Alas, our information proved inaccurate as the place as still closed at 11am!
In the end, we took a cab back to Platinum Plaza along Petchburi Road as the gals wanted to do some shopping since Pratunam Complex was a stone’s throw away. We had to content with Bangkok’s traffic as it soon was 12 noon and taking the highway (with additional 40 baht) didn’t seem to help make the journey any faster.
Interestingly, we encountered something unusual at Platinum Plaza’s food court when we tried to make orders and realized that a stored valued card system was in place at all the stalls. Seems like a pretty good idea since staff don’t have to handle currency and easier accounting? Had a bowl of noodle soup with stewed duck for 40 baht and in all, we spent only 200 baht for a pretty good lunch.
Night 1 – Suan Lum Night Market and a nice foot massage to end the day
With the night still young, we quickly unpacked and made way to explore the surroundings. We walked a little and unfortunately, we headed towards First Hotel instead of Pratunam side and missed out a nice night bazaar going on. We took a cab from First Hotel to Suan Lum night market after checking that was probably the closest we could reach since it was 10pm already. The cab took 100 baht since I thought not going by meter was ok.. I was wrong 
Seeing as Jetstar doesn’t provide in-flight meals, we had a quick bite at Suan Lum since we were all feeling a little hungry. Unfortunately, we missed out the huge food area and settled for duck meat platter with fried noodles near the beer garden. Quite a horrible place with mosquitoes and cockroaches running rampant. After a quick tour at Suan Lum Night Market where we roamed the various small alleys but didn’t really purchase anything.
We decided to call it a night and took a cab by meter this time for 75 baht after fending off the usual guys who wanted to give us a better deal.
I had seen the Traditional Thai Massage shop just outside our apartment and decided to have a quick 1 hr foot massage for 2 (400 baht + 100 tips). Felt incredible after a long day and kinda felt sorry for the staff who had been working since 10am that morning.