Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Singapore Trip with Cindy

I went to Singapore with Cindy!

One of my greatest highlights was: do you know Cindy can sleep within 2 seconds after she stopped talking? She snored too!

When we reached Singapore, Cindy, a Powerful Choleric immediately took action by looking through the MRT list on which station we should head next. Well, we got to the right station, alright, and once we were outside, Cindy spotted an uncle who sells ice cream block and without thinking twice she immediately bought one. Talk about babi.

No time to waste we immediately left for Ah Loon's ROV thing at Tampines (tamp-pin-ness as in the guy's stuff, and this smart Cindy said Tangerine instead of Tampines). We didn't know where the taxi stand is but as we walked we saw bus stands so might as well take the bus. You can see all the weird busses around, like this really long bus.

Yes, dear Cindy took bus ride!

We reached safely at the ROV centre and our dear Cindy got so excited hat she immediately took her camera (finally) and start snapping pictures like nobody's business and text Ah Loon with speed of light. Never in my life I've seen Cindy this excited before.

This is a mini ROV where students use it in swimming pool for fun. Yeah, expensive toy alright.

This person who talked to Cindy and I (I didn't exactly listen because I'm abit sleepy due to not enough sleep and I was busy snapping pictures), I can't remember his name but he's really patient and nice and brought us around the centre to show Cindy and I how the lessons are going to be like and what kind of insights students will get.

Right after that we head of to the infamous Orchard Road! Even the entrance to the Orchard Road MRT is nice, unlike our Pasar Seni LRT. I don't want to mention too much; afterall, I'm from Malaysia.

That's Tang with a huge poster of Eva Longoria pasted on the very Chinese Dynasty Ming or whatsoever building. I think that's the most unique building in Orchard Road. In fact most buildings at Orchard Road are high rise that Spiderman can still swing here and there. And the girls there are so dressy! Though the weather was hot, their makeup became thicker! Girls there are so hot that gays might turn straight.

We dropped by at Wisma Atria and grab some food. The food was wonderful! And these people are very generous with their prawns (if you don't convert your currency of course).

Can you see me within the atrium of the mall?

Look Mummy! L'Occitane!

And Geox! Too bad no such souveniers for you. That's why we took pictures instead.

Of course there are many interesting to see along the old streets of Singapore but too bad we didn't have much time.

One of the interesting places in Singapore is Chinatown!

Their Chinatown is so interesting, that someone actually wrote a poem about Chinatown and pasted on the walls of their MRT station.

Singapore Chinatown might not be as ever-so-bargaining like Chee Chiung Khai, but at least it's really clean and the people there consist of Chinese and are not rude.

Come on man, we have indians at Chee Chiung Khai scolding people like their grandparents owns the road.

Win a FREE ride in a police car just by shoplifting from that stall! Let's do it!

While Cindy went out with Ave, I finally have my one hour walk with myself and Hobart, of course, around Singapore! I wanted so much to see the lion with a tail thing and Esplanade! But the weather was so hot and I got lost for half an hour walking the wrong way. And it was so hot! My hands were burning like crazy and I had to carry so many things!

When I finally see something that looks like Esplanade, I got really excited!

Look! Finally! The Mer-Lion that pukes out water!

Esplanade was across the Singapore River, across the bridge, and I only have 15 minutes and it was so so so so so hot, so forget Esplanade. Probably for next time.

The sad thing about walking alone is no one will take pictures for you and I was looking around for someone to take pictures for me and everyone seemed distance so forget it.

But Hobart is lucky though. Hobart was in Singapore!

I rushed back to Republic Plaza where Cindy and Ave was there and I came across Ascott Raffles Place. i stopped to take a picture of their old grand entrance and the bellboy saw me and open the doors for me to take picture. So nice of them but I didn't get a good view... sorry bellboy-san.

This is Ave and Cindy! Ave works in Deutsche Bank in Singapore and originally from UK and has been helping Cindy with information of London. She is really sweet and an outgoing person. Cindy sure meet good people in her field.

The MRT station looks like this. Abit like Hong Kong don't you think?

This is the Fullerton Building which is attached to the Fullerton Hotel. It's like a huge massive palace, situated opposite the park where the mer-lion that pukes out water lies.

Because I got lost for 45 minutes and didn't even stop by to buy myself food and not forgetting the weather was so so so so hot, Cindy and I stopped by at Starbucks and she chia me eat potato salad!

We rushed to our final destination, Vivo City!

That's the Candy Empire! Gosh! I think we spent alot on chocs. Can't help it. It was tempting and cheap compare to KL price even after conversion.

Cindy brought me to Sky Park so that we can catch a glimpse of Sentosa Island. They're doing alot of upgrading it seems.

Well, stuff animals got excited so they took turn to take pictures!

Then tupit Gon started to think like godzilla and wanted to terrorize the people at the cable car but Cindy grabbed him and stuffed him in her bag. Haha!

I wonder if they put this at the KLCC park, will the people understand?

We head on to food republic to spend out leftover time in Singapore, trying to relax and enjoy the view of no tudongs (I'm racist).

Cindy and I shared alot of otak otak and ying yang drink each.

They used recycled door as decorations at Food Republic! Malaysians might burn the doors!

Shopping at Singaore is very different from KL. Singapore have great and unique taste that suits a designer like me. And the cloths there are quite cheap, too (if you don't convert). Imagine if you earn the same amount of money (don't convert), shopping in Singapore will be of great worth! Unlike in Malaysia. I feel cheated. Work hard but can't spend hard in Malaysia.

Cindy and I each got a watch for ourselves! And vain Cindy started modeling for her watch!

Sadly, we only left a pathetic 5 cents coin.

Our bus ride was waiting for us at Habour Front station and I was really sad to leave. Why you may ask? SO MANY HANDSOME GUYS AT SINGAPORE! WHEREVER I TURN I'LL SEE ONE! IT WAS SUCH BEAUTIFUL VIEWWWWWWWWWWWWW! I'm depressed.

While waiting in the bus with no one around, that's when people start doing crazy things, like taking out all the soft toys and start snapping away!

You know what's sad? The next day when I took the LRT to KLCC to meet up with Royce and Alan for a movie, when I turn left or right, I had a culture shock. NO HANDSOME GUYS AROUND!!

I shall stop here and sulk for our dear very-little-handsome-guys-Malaysia. Hobart said hi.

Monday, August 4, 2008

On to Penang

Yeah! Penang! A whole family trip!

It has been quite awhile since all of us hang out in one huge vehicle and journey to somewhere in Malaysia, and Papa suggested for this year's sister-trip, why don't the whole family go Penang together?? It was a good idea. And Auntie Marg tagged along!

It was a long journey, we got out of home at 7am (and Mummy had to personally wake all us piggies and Loon was the last one) and most of us continued sleeping in the car, especially Pearly!

Ngiaw Chu was exceptionally happy because he heard got Pulau Tikus in Penang!

Finally, Penang! We checked into Traders Hotel, a 5 star hotel in Penang, thanks to Cindy and Loon.

Best part about Traders is it's 5 minutes walk to Perangin Mall, 15 minutes walk to best chendol in Penang with this really charming, good looking guy who speaks fluent English working in the stall, and 10 minutes walk to Mummy's custom made line dancing shoe shop.

I didn't really get a good angle on the cute guy, but heck, not only the chendol is nice, I get to see cute guy!

Well, I told Cindy how cute the guy is and when she went back to the stall to tapao Chendol for Ah Loon (yeah that guy didn't follow us and messed up with my stuff toys), she actually told him her sister mentioned he's handsome and he responded, which sister. Of course the prettiest one lor...

Behind the chendol stall lies the best Penang Laksa I've tasted! But Auntie Marg said the original of all originals Penang Laksa is black colour, because they'll use fresh sardines instead of the canned ones.

In the evening while Pearly and Loon hibernates in the hotel room, the rest of us went to Gurney Drive!

It looks totally different from how it used to be; I remember most stalls are from caravan. But food there is't as nice as if you were to walk around and stop by a few places to get a bite. Maybe because we didn't know how to choose. But Cindy (as always) tapaoed char kueh tiaw and chicken wing for her lazy bum hubby and sleeping beauty sister. Apparently Loon thinks Mummy's char kueh tiaw is much better!

By the time we got back most of us were exhausted. It was late so we call it a day!

The next day we stroll along the old streets of Penang and Ngiaw Chu saw this!

We went to some famous Ghee Hiang and got some pao looking thing. Mummy commented the 'store' never grow up though it's more than 100 years old, just like us. Look mummy, Ah Loon point middle finger! He should be punished!

We excitedly went to USM! Auntie Marg used to study there 19 years ago. She told us many things like the burnt down dorm and how everyone was panic and she managed to save some students important cert but fail to save the motorcycle. Cause of the fire? Some malay girl forgot to switch off the iron.

USM is situated towards south of the island, so Papa brought us to the roads of Balik Pulau and stopped for durian near the waterfalls. And here we can see hungry piggies devouring the remains of the fruit.

Balik Pulau is a really long stretch road that links the whole Penang, but most of us didn't know it was THAT long. And what's worse, the fuel tank was almost empty! Mummy, Cindy and Ah Loon, especially got panic because if the vehicle really run out of gas, the men have to push the car to the nearest petrol station. I'm the lightest so I'll be the driver hiak hiak. And at that time we don't seem to be near any houses, what more to saw small town!

Well, nothing happen alright. We got back to Traders safe and sound!

In the evening I finally get to meet Sam and Ann!

They brought me to Batu Ferringi. I miss beach! It has been a long time since I have sand under my feet! It was really nice of them to spend time with me and bring me around though they have their final presentation the week after next.

Outside along the roads at Batu Feringgi lies a long stretch market that takes up half of the road. Abit scary walking there actually but you get to see souvenirs which you can see almost everywhere... highly recommended for outstation tourist!

Our next destination was Sam's house! Sam has a nice family, a nice house, very windy all the time and best of all, a wonderful view!

We headed out to Pulau Tikus (too bad Ngiaw Chu did not tag along) and had out dinner there. Ann is very fussy with choice of food; that's why being with her you'll only taste the best!

It was almost 12 when I got back. I really had fun with them.

The next day most of us woke up really early in the morning and head off to the market.

What made me sad was I see many people carrying poodle on their shoulders, a real dog, and sadly, I only have Hobart... haiz...

But it's alright Hobart, your dad may abandon, I won't do that for a real dog... I hope...

We had dim sum for breakfast nearby the market and their loh mai kai was fantastic! Best I've tasted so far. And as for our most spoilt person throughout the journey, for good behavior, he got room service breakfast on bed! For your information, the hand on the lower right hand side of the picture is Cindy's. Yes, she is a pig.

We head down to Ipoh for an early dinner and get to meet up with one and only Auntie Power! Yeah... still big size apparently. But still the same woman. It's nice to see old faces once in awhile.

On our way back to KL we stopped by the legendary Kellie's Castle where all the weird mysteries happened and rumours spread wildly just so that the government can cheat foolish people who wish to see ghost. I don't see any. And the tunnels closed down since it collapse.

But the whole building is magnificent. Sadly, it wasn't finished as the owner died of pneumonia. I'm a survivor of that disease! The design is a mixture of Malayish and Indian architecure. And a pinch of English design, arches and all that, especially their underground wine cellar.

The journey back was interesting. None of us slept but gossiped throughout the journey. I got to know why I wasn't in the school debate team which lost 1st round. I got to know the teachers were happy because a rogue classmate and I talked back to the difficult pain-in-the-ass Philip Chan!

I had fun! Thanks for the whole trip, Mummy, Papa, Cindy and Ah Loon! We shall all travel again together!

Next trip, to Pearly's Graduation in Russia! I hope...