Gardens by the Bay: Photo Journal

If you have not check out my review on Gardens by the Bay, please do so here (opens up in new window).

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit one of Singapore's newest and greenest attraction once again, this time with the company of my dear aunt and grandmother, who was so adorably afraid to step on the 6-storey high platforms at the Cloud Forest. Besides that, she did enjoy the vibrantly-coloured flowers to a great extent, as well as aunt and myself did. 

Look, I am not going to make this photo journal look like a blog post describing our journey to the gardens, so without furthur I present to you some of the wonders of God (aye, Christian here), which includes some of the very beautiful flowers and cacti (mostly nestled at the Flower Dome.) And obviously, these are not all of the sceneries you could expect!

Teddy Bear Museum & Namsan Tower @ Seoul, Korea

Located at the outskirts of Myeongdong stood the landmark of Seoul - Namsan Tower, a 777ft tall communication and observatory building that cost approximately $2.5m to build. Officially known as CJ Seoul Tower (or better known as Seoul Tower), it was built in 1969 but only opened to the public 11 years later at 1980. Since then, Namsan Tower has become a favourite hotspot for tourists and romantic young couples who would hang named padlocks (and throwing away the key) on the tower fence as a symbol of love.

As for a tourist and kiasu Singaporean like myself, it is with pure sensible thinking that I have to make a trip up to Namsan Tower during the cold winters of 2010, when I was a student volunteer in ACM Siggraph Asia. 

Besides the superb view and lovey-dovey, in year 2008 - the Teddy Bear Museum was introduced into the Namsan Tower. Using amusing bear miniatures, it exhibits the chronicles of the capital of Korea, from the Joseon Dynasty to present, as well as the developments of Seoul.  

As they say, pictures speak a thousand words..

There is even a "green-screen" platform where you get to take pictures with the bears. Just simply choose the settings and snap away!

Besides the cute miniatures, the museum also housed a few human-sized bears. Good for taking photos (and hugging) with! There is also a small section with luxury teddy bears from the past made by premium toy-maker, Steiff.

Can't "bear" to leave them? How about buying one at the gift store at the end of the museum trail? Some are limited edition and might cost a lot, but when your inner child is begging for it, who cares about the little money spend?

We bought the "Observatory Package" which includes entrance to the Teddy Bear Museum as well as the observatory deck. It offers paranomic 360 degrees of the city landscape from the observatory of Namsan Tower. Although there is no doubt that it would be magnificent in the morning, I highly recommend to visit around 6pm to 9pm when the tower transformed itself into a beautiful light emitting beacon.

Even the view from the restroom is impressive!

The Namsan Tower also houses several cafe and restaurant, including the well-known N GRILL which serves steaks and grills at the highest location atop of the tower. The cool factor? It is a rotating restaurant with a rotating speed of 100 minutes per round.

Admission / Participation Fees

Teddy Bear Museum - Adults (19+): 8,000 won - Teenagers (14-18): 6,000 won - Children (13 or younger): 5,000 won Observatory Package (Teddy Bear Museum + N Seoul Tower Observatory) - Adults (19+): 12,000 won - Teenagers (14~18): 8,000 won - Children (13 or younger): 6,000 won

Click here for directions.

For more information on Teddy Bear Museum, please visit their official website:
http://www.teddybearmuseum.co.kr/Etc/English.asp

Kedai Koon Kee Wanton Mee @ Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur

Better known as 冠记 in Cantonese to the locals, Kedai Koon Kee is located in the midst of Kuala Lumpur's most well-known food street, Jalan Petaling (Chinatown). It is well-hidden behind the throngs of stalls that lined the heritage tourist site, infamous for pirated clothes, accessories as well as bootleg movies. Try looking out for the prominent chinese wordings on the tin roof (as seen in below picture.)

Kedai Koon Kee is famous for its Wanton Noodles (RM5.50 for large), served with well-marinated roasted pork, crunchy veggies and wantons with generous amount of fillings. The noodles were slightly undercooked and greasy, but nevertheless possesses the chewy "Q-factor" and delectable.

Besides the noodles, they are also known for their Prawn Dumplings (RM12.00 for 8). Juicy fillings made with minced pork and prawn, wrapped with a thin layer of soft dumpling skin. Oh! And the soup has relatively low MSG too.

Although the restaurant looks tattered and run-down, don't be fooled by its exterior for what awaits is the legendary Koon Kee Wanton Mee.

 

Kedai Koon Kee Wanton Mee

95 Jalan Hang Lekir

Jalan Petaling

Tioman Island Escapade Itinerary Day 3

This blog entry is a continuation of "Tioman Island Escapade". If you have not checked out the second part of the 3D 2N itinerary, kindly do so by clicking here.

 

0800hr

Gently awaken by the soft sunlight that peeked through the lodge's white curtains, I rubbed my sleepy eyes, dragged myself out of bed and cleaned-up before waking Peiyi up. I opened the door expecting a mess caused by the monkeys again, but everything was peaceful. Looks like the residents have learnt their lesson. The other four friends were more or less awoke and after 10 minutes or so, we were ready for breakfast.

 

0900hr

The weather was beautiful and breezy that day, with gentle waves hitting the shore. Everyone except Peiyi and I went for the last snorkelling session, while the two of us decided to have a romantic stroll along the beach.

 

 

We reached a part of the beach where the dead corals and sea shells covered the sands. We also took the chance to collect some free souvenirs back home.

 

And even found a shell THIS BIG!

 

0930hr

The snorkelling gang finished their fish-googling trip and we headed back to our lodges for a quick bath and to pack-up our baggages.

 

1030hr

Not forgetting to get some souvenirs back home, we went to the duty-free shop located just a minute walk away from the resort. Some ideal souvenirs to bring back are little crafts and trinkets, local snacks, duty-free liquer and cigars (subjected to individual countries; some might impose a tax on the items) or a quirky Tioman T-shirt.

 

Not recommended: I got a dyed batik cloth for Mama Kook, but the colors fade off after a few wash.

1200hr

We checked out of the resort and proceeded to have lunch at the seafood restaurant manned by an old couple. As Tioman depends heavily on imports, this restaurant only serves a variety of home-cooked dishes depending on the imports for that day. We ran out of luck again when they told us crabs weren't available.

 

Although service was slow (can't blame them), food was generally good and the price was pretty reasonable as well. Compared to other restaurants in Paya, I'd ranked this one the best.

 

After a hearty lunch, why not grab some Wall's Magnum ice-cream again?

 

1345hr

The time when we bid farewell to the beautiful island has arrived. Although it rained on the second day, we had absolute fun trying out snorkelling and exploring this beautiful island. What's more? I made two new friends, Soull and Judy!

 

Last group photo at Tioman Island

Our ferry ride was a tad late and only managed to board at about 1430hr.

1900

After another grueling trip back home, we finally crossed the Singapore borders at Woodlands Checkpoint.

Home sweet home.

Tioman Island Escapade Itinerary Day 2

This blog entry is a continuation of "Tioman Island Escapade". If you have not checked out the first part of the 3D 2N itinerary, kindly do so by clicking here.

0730hr

Before my alarm rang, I was awoken by the commotion outside. Apparently a big group of approximately 20 cheeky monkeys were messing with the bins in search of food. Laundries were tossed and rubbish were literally everywhere.

Just a tip - never leave your food outside.

Caught red-handed

0800hr

After washing up, we headed to the dining area at Paya Beach Resort for our long awaited breakfast. The food was sub-par, with the potatoes and pancakes being really terrible. The omelettes and sunny side-up were good though, just a bit too oily for my liking.

0900hr

We headed back to our lodges to change attires and equipments for the snorkelling tour. We got on the boats at the jetty, anyway we were late so we had to wait until everyone has boarded the boats. It stopped at 3 different destinations where we got off the boats and snorkelled around the area.

The weather was not ideal for snorkelling that day - the sea was too choppy and most of the fishes had went into hiding. Nevertheless, we got the chance to admire the marine life. The assorted corals were definitely more beautiful than yesterday's. You can also bring along bread to feed the fishes, watch them as they snatched the food off your fingers!

We had to wait for the sky to clear at the last station (Salang) before returning back to Paya. Anyway do check out their marine park centre, where you get to see interesting artifacts and learn more about the marine life. Admission is free of charge.

1500hr
After cleaning up and changing to fresh outfits, it's time for lunch.

(From left): Victor, Jesline, Peiyi, Thomas, Soull, Judy

Our stomachs were terribly grumpy after an exhausting snorkelling trip. We chanced upon a restaurant selling local cuisine located just at the jetty, where we had Tom Yum Noodles and plates of fried rice. At that point of time, I guessed we were too hungry that everything tasted good. The rice was a tad dry though.

Mamak Nasi Goreng, which translates loosely to Mama's Fried Rice is pretty satisfying. It is similar to the previous one, but is like an upgraded version with stronger flavour and chilli padi added.

Do take note that they also provide diving and snorkelling packages as well.

1700hr

Venture into the forest trail where it leads to the Rock Fall. There are lots of direction signs and an obvious pathway, so follow that route and you'll be fine. The Rock Fall is a miniature version of a waterfall, where one can even enjoy a cool dip there. Be careful as the rocks and stones are pretty slippery.

There are also a lot of pesky bugs along the way, hence insect repellent is highly recommended.

1800hr

We continued our exploration towards the beach as the sun begins to set beyond the horizon. The sunset is beautiful, but I prefer the orange/purple-hued skies at Langkawi.

And the girls doing the classic jump shot.

There were a few interesting specimens we found, including a lifeless jellyfish that was washed ashore. Poor dude.

 

Just look at the amazing details on this corals! (It made my skin crawls though.)

 

 

 

1900hr

As the tide lowers, more rocks become visible. Admire the simple beauty of rock formations.

We even did our version of 那些年 right here on the rocks.

2000hr

Just before dinner, we did a quick wash-up. The dilemma came on us again - what's for dinner? And ended up choosing the Western cuisine at the resort. Their grills and steaks were not cheap and standards were below average, however they did well on the Fish & Chips.

There is a place where you could play billiard as well, a mini swimming pool for a light swim after dinner or get a torchlight to explore the tide-receded lands. Most of the convenience stores sell torchlights or other lighting device, so fret not if you did not bring along your lights. But we chose to get some alcohol (they are real cheap there) and snacks, and just chill out at the lodge instead.

0000hr

Lights out.

For Tioman Island Escapade Itinerary Day 3, please kindly click here.

Tioman Island Escapade Itinerary Day 1

Being a beach-loving person, Tioman has always been on my travel list. Known as one of the most beautiful island in the world and measuring more than 133sq kilometres, Tioman is the largest in a volcanic group of islands off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.

Take a moment and picture the beauty of nature - lush tropical rainforest with countless streams and waterfalls surrounded by beaches of soft white sand and clear blue water. Hear the chirping of birds, the genuine laughter of children having fun and gentle sounds of waves. Welcome to paradise.

Somewhen in July 2012, after doing the necessary booking of travel and accommodation through Discovery Tours and Travel Pte Ltd, five friends and I embarked on a 3D2N snorkelling trip to Tioman.

Day 1

0645hr

We got on the coach that arrived just outside DFS Galleria Orchard. Upon reaching the Malaysia customs, we had a quick 30-minutes breakfast, there were more toilet breaks subsequently. Please kindly note that there will be a RM5.00 marine park conservation fee charged at the Mersing ferry terminal.

1300hr

After a gruelling 4-hours bus and near 2-hours ferry ride, we finally reached our destination - the beautiful Tioman island. Although the locals understand basic English, knowing how to converse in Melayu helps a great deal.

 

 

 

Our night's stay, Paya Beach Resort is effortlessly located about 5 minutes walk from the ferry terminal, with nearby convenience stores and eateries.

 

 

1330hr

We checked into our standard lodges at Aman Damai Wing, conveniently located just a minute walk away from the beach. There is a spa house by the resort as well, but we shunned away upon looking at the prices.

 

There were a few komodo dragons roaming about. But if left undisturbed, these fierce-looking reptiles are generally "peace creatures".

 

 

Not to forget, the friendly furry resident.

 

 

 

All the standard lodges are built on top of the boardwalk and are card-key activated. Our room was slightly dirty, where the ants and cobsweb are a huge turn-off. But what can I expect for the low price? One good thing is that it comes equipped with basic toiletries, including shampoo, shower gel, toilet paper etc.

 

Please don't mind the mess 

1400hr
While you were  there, do not forget to try the authentic Malaysia Ramly burger at the restaurant located just in front of the port. Juicy meat patty and crunchy greens sanwiched in between two crispy fried burger buns. I had their signature King Ramly (RM5.50), which simply means double patties.

1500hr

There were a few vendors within the area that specializes in snorkelling and diving rental and other services. Their rates are quite competitive, so you might want to check out different ones. However, in the end we chose the one located just beside the resort reception (just to be safe.) Besides renting the equipments and kayaks, we also signed up for tomorrow's day snorkelling tour around the island, which includes 3 points of interest (RM60.00).

 New found friends, Soull and Judy posing with their snorkelling gears

1530hr

We then kayaked away (approx 50 metres) from the shore, put on our snorkelling gears and jumped into the water. It was my virgin experience on snorkelling by the way. While there were little fishes and a bed of discoloured corals, it felt amazing able to see and feel the other dimension underwater. Some of us were disappointed at the declining quality, but nevertheless we enjoyed the kayaking.

The sun sets and the darkness rises

1800hr

We headed back for a shower and quick rest before planning what's for dinner. Shower taps are readily available outside every single lodge for a quick feet wash, but we cleverly overturned the tap to uh.. do a shower dance.

Yours truly and Victor having a bromantic shower outside

1900hr

Why not take the chance to cam-whore a bit while the other four are still preparing? As you can see (unclearly), Girlfriend Peiyi is wearing a green-dyed batik dress, which she bought earlier on at the Mersing ferry terminal for RM20.00.

1915hr

After much discussion, we decided to settle for seafood dinner at the resort. There were lots of foreigners (especially Caucasians) enjoying the romantic ambience as much as the food. We had Barbequed Sting Ray, Chilli Prawns, Sambal Kang Kong and a mixed of Beef and Chicken satays.

The meal was satisfying and slightly cheaper than Singapore. If you do not take spicy food, kindly do inform the staff, as they love to put spice in almost everything.

Satay cheers for an awesome trip

Before I forget this point:

The almighty Magnum ice-cream costs only RM4.00 (S$1.60) at the convenience store!

2130hr

We headed back to their lodge, where we "talked cock and sang song". The Mediacorp's Save My World song was popular back then and we kept singing it to the tunes of Victor's guitar and my terrible ukulele skills.

2300hr

Peiyi and I went back to our lodge. Lights out.

For Tioman Island Escapade Itinerary Day 2, please kindly click here.