Pulau Ubin Trip 2010

One of the things I would like to do more in 2011 is to explore Singapore and her surrounding islands in greater detail. Yup, that would be one of my new year resolutions.

Its rather ironic that for someone who spends so much time travelling and touring foreign lands, I'm not one who can profess to know my own country well. A recent trip down to some heartland malls really blew my mind. What have I been missing?!? To put the icing on the cake or salt to my wounds, I recently went on a cycling trip to Pulau Ubin and totally enjoyed myself IMMENSELY. Yes,  you heard it....I loved it!!

Words cannot justify the great time I had. Neither can the photos taken from my Iphone 3GS. But here they are anyway:

 Changi Point Ferry Terminal - where you can take a bumboat to Pulau Ubin

Our ride - Cost 2.50SGD per person (and another 2 SGD for your bicycle). 12 to go!

Kampung house on stilts - You just don't see houses like that anymore

 Monkeys, on a shed, basking in the sunlight

Wild Pig!! It came right up to us (cuz there was someone feeding it!) I was totally thrilled!

Charming Tudo-style cottage built in 1930s by Chief Surveyor, Langdon Williams

We climbed the 22 meter high Jejawi Tower and took a nice stroll along the broadwalk around Chek Jawa where we saw mangroves, nipah palm (aka attah-chee), the seagrass lagoon and so on.  As many things as I saw, I'm pretty certain there were just as many things I missed! (Just one more reason to brave the sun and visit Pulau Ubin again!)

Fact: Did you know?

Pulau Ubin aka Granite Island is shaped like a boomerang and situated just off the northeastern corner of mainland Singapore. The 1020 hectare island was once a cluster of 5 smaller ones separated by tidal rivers, but the building of the bunds for prawn farming has since united these into a single island. To other islets, Pulau Ketam (Crab Island) and Pulau Sekudu (Frog Island), lie to its south.

Betcha didn't know that....I know I didn't!!!

Fireworks Display at 101

Notes: 6 minutes video and took over an hour to upload. Its a little shaky but I hope you like it. :D

Happy New Year 2011!!!

2011 really kicked off with a bang!! Superb dinner, fantastic company and a first-class fireworks display at a very special location..... What more could one ask for?!?  I'm indeed very blessed! I give thanks to the universe and the creator ... :D (Yes, I've read the SECRET!)

This year is a very special year for Taiwan as they celebrate their 100th year of independence. A crowd of 750,000 people gathered at Taipei city hall to watch a fantastic show of music and lights. Though I was a little tired and generally not a fan of crowded places, it was a really good experience for me.

Fireworks of dragon snaking up 101, 3D views of 100 shooting up in the air and alot more can only be understood when seen with your own eyes. As such, I intend to dutifully upload the 6 minute amateur video onto youtube to share it with you kind people. 

Well, as with all years, I won't bore you with my new year resolutions. But as a close friend says....may this be a year where we all manage to stick with our resolutions. Cheers!

AWESOME!!!! MJ totally rocks

Prisoners from Philippines do an MJ.....Freaking awesome!!!

Nasi Goreng - Room Service in Jakarta

I miss Malay food. It's about the only cuisine that you can't find easily in Taipei. The meal tasted as good as it looks!!! Room service in Sari Pan Pacific, Jakarta.

Wat Pho - Reclining Buddha

Let's take a break away from food, shall we?

I was in Bangkok about a month ago and did some sightseeing over the weekend.  We visited 3 temples and took lots of pictures. Here are the ones from Wat Pho (วัดโพธิ์), or also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon (วัดพระเชตุพน)

Couple of interesting facts:
1) Famous for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses
2) Has the most number of Buddha images in Thailand.
2) Standing at 20 acres large, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok.
3) Built around 200 years ago (and thus it is is also technically the oldest)
4) Rebuilt by Rama I when the capital was moved to Bangkok.

Eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration,

The gold plated reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high.
(Designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana)

Feet are also engraved with mother of pearl decorations

Sole of feet shows 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha

Standard lunch/dinner in Hong Kong - Roasted Meat

I was staying on Queen's Road West over the weekend. It is on the west side of Hong Kong island which (I know this because Isa forced me to look at her precious map upon moving into her place) is a stone's throw away from Central (aka the hustle bustle of IFC mall, Lan Kwai Fong and so on).

Queen's Road West is famous for its many Teochew restaurants. When dusk falls, you will find many nice cars parked along the roads and the restaurants full of people. Day time, however, with banks, cafes and a small wet market nearby, you can also be guaranteed with lots of activities and things to see. 

Perpendicular to Queen's Road West is Possession Street. The name, I find rather amusing, is NOT a direct translation of the chinese name. The chinese name directly translated is, erm..... Water Hole street. I guess that's why they had to change the name??? But what I don't get is why call it Possession street? Is it because nearby there is a street full of funeral parlors? Haha, okay, not funny.

Within an hour of moving into Isa's place, I couldn't resist popping into one of the Hong Kong stalls selling roasted meat. (This is after I had a heavy late lunch and was at her place less than 2 hours later). The meal cost only 36 HKD and comes with a large bowl of salted vegetable soup. Totally enjoyable.

No wonder HK is known to be the land of eating and drinking.

Where I stayed over the weekend (west side of HK island)

Typical Hong Kong stall on Possession Street selling roast meats

Inside the stall - Many people getting take away

My lunch/dinner - Roast Pork, Char Siew, Roast Duck  plus a salted egg

Salted Vegetable Soup - On the house

Lunch at Yung Kee on the last day...

After checking my luggage into the Hotel Express station, we took a cab to the famous Yung Kee restuarant which was about 10 mins away by taxi. Had to wait for about 20 minutes for our seats (which isn't long by Hong Kong standards). Service was great, food was fantastic. (Usually food is fantastic and service is not so great...) I'm not complaining but I didn't manage to eat the pigeon dish (my craving) so I guess I will need to visit Hong Kong again soon.

Almost missed my flight as we were having so much fun but anyway it was totally worth it.

Thanks Isa, I had a great time!!

Address: 32-40 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

  Famous Yung Kee Restaurant (Near Lan Kwai Fong)

Appetizer - Century Egg with Ginger (Very extremely popular)

Kok Poh - Blending of 2 types of tea

Goose Wings
(My Grandpa's favourite - Yes, we are Teo Chew)

Veggies - Xiao Bai Chai

3 Types of Roasted Meat - Goose,, Suckling Pig and Char Siew

Close Up -
Since this is what everyone goes to the restaurant for

Closer...
Doesn't it make your mouth water?

(This shot is especially for BP) 

View from my hotel window

I love the idea that I can see the mountain from my window. Feels like my living room in Taipei...

Just in front of the mountain is the Hong Kong Jockey club. They have horse races every Wed and Friday. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

In the spirit of National Day......

Monster Rabbit

Monster Rabbit taken at Danshui, Taipei. Don't tell me that you are not impressed. I don't believe you...:D

Supper in Hong Kong

Day One in Hong Kong and I couldn't resist going out for supper with Isa. Met her at IFC and we walked over to one of the cafes at Jubilee Street. I've been to Hong Kong so many times before but I have to admit that every single time I'm here, it feels quite exciting as the city is just soooo "ALIVE!!". Love the food and love the hustle bustle!!! (Disclaimer: I'm not as excited as some people I know about being in Hong Kong, aka THE Hong Kong crazies, who rave about Hong Kong almost as if its the best place in the world. My excitement is very much moderate in comparison. :P)

Taken from the window in the cafe.

You can see the reflection of the cafe's lights from the glass. I was totally lazy to stand up and take a proper picture but I had a damn good view of some superbly nice cars parked next to that shoddy looking building. Porsche, BMWs and the likes....Really nice cars with damn interesting license plates. I remember once I saw a license plate on a car that was "2 FAST" . Hehe....Rich people....I thought it was hilarious!

Okay, now to the food.....

Pork Bun with condensed milk

Dish Number 1: Wanted something sweet and was conflicted between getting Buo Luo Bao (Pineapple bun with a slab of button) and this Pork bun with condensed milk. Both are equally sinful. I know!! In the end, I decided to try "something new" and ordered the latter. I didn't exactly know why it was called Pork bun. There was nothing porkish about it I commented..... Isa suggested that it was probably baked using pork lard or something. Ewwwwww...... Disgusting as it sounds (I mean Isa's theory), it was super yummelicious. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. 

"Swiss" style chicken wings

Dish Number 2: This dish is introduced as "Swiss" styled chicken wings. Swiss style chicken wings??? Come on! The chicken wings were cooked in dark soy sauce. Exactly like the type that you can get in Singapore. Its very very chinese style, I mean, do they even have dark soy sauce in Switzerland??? Even though  I knew it would have been better if I removed the chicken skin, I admit that it was not really what happened in the end. I ate everything ....but the bones...(almost wanted to chomp down the bones though. ) 

Dumpling in soup

THE only healthy choice: This is Isa's clubbing comfort food (and definitely the most healthy dish I've had since I got here). She tells me that she goes to the cafe's 24 hour branch for supper after clubbing and almost always orders this dish. It was quite wholesome....I think it had spinach fillings or something like that.

Note: Some pictures were taken with the TZ-10's food mode. Isa swears that it is all about choosing the right mode which makes all the difference. To be honest, I have always used the camera's Intelligent mode and just let the software decide. After staring hard at the picture, I still couldn't tell that much of a difference but anyway, I have never been one who is perceptive about such things so oh well....she is probably right.  :D 

The Wave Song - Damn funny man!!!

Days and days of porridge

Just had my wisdom tooth extracted. Was on the dentist chair for about 40 mins and after 3 painful jabs (very long needles) and 1190 dollars poorer, was destined to suffer for the next 5 days in pain.

My cheek swelled up to the size of a fish ball and in jest I christened myself "half a chipmunk." In truth, the days that I had fevers were absolutely horrid.

With tender loving care from the family, I had "baby food" prepared and cooled for my meals everyday. My mum even painstakingly cut up my noodles till microscopic sizes.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful but after days and days of porridge and chopped up noodles, I find myself wishing for fried chicken or something totally sinful. (my ben n jerry ice cream don't count)



The only porridge I can bear eating for 5 days is porridge with lotsa love. So glad to be home!!

Sweets in 7-11 (Taipei)

I'm such a sucker for packaging and Taipei (like Japan) is just soooo good at it. Its like nothing to them, its like breathing. As a result, a trip to the convenience store is like letting me loose in Disney land. So many things to see and buy, just due to the packaging alone!!!

Just look at that!!! Traditional sweets in a postal box packaging with the yellow tape just like back in the old days. Miniature size!!!! Darn it!

THE ECONOMIST

Hehe. Enough said. :D

Ingenious II - Another way of writing

Recap: 招 財 進 寶 - Let riches and treasures come in

These 4 words are just so popular for Chinese businesses. If you pay attention, you probably can find it hanging somewhere in a Chinese shop near you today!

Here is another way of writing which I took from a small shop in Danshui, Taipei. (This way of writing is kinda neater but I prefer the first one though.)

First post can be found here

Old typewriter

Guess what I found in the corner of a little obscure restaurant in Taipei. (And it wasn't like the theme of the restaurant was retro or anything).

This ancient typewriter was just placed on the floor near the cashier. Perhaps they were using it for typing up the menus before it died on them and had to be replaced? Anyway, haven't seen one in a while. I've used one before though. If only for a little while... :)

Still amazed about the things that we somehow find when we aren't looking.

My teacher's cat

She was very very tired. Hehe. Ignored the flashes from my camera.

Tom Yum Noodles at the Conrad

Its always easy to take pictures of food. I'm sitting still, the presentation is normally nice straight out of the kitchen (or at least before I forget and take a big bite out of my meal)

Conrad Level 2 cafe serves tom yum noodles in large and small portions. The small portion is perfect if you aren't too hungry and just feeling a little bit greedy for a taste. (I know I was..on the day I arrived in Bangkok)

Its quite expensive though. You can get a bowl of noodles on the street at a quarter of the price (or less). Not sure how hygienic that would be but I guess you choose your own ¨poison¨.  :D