Thursday, February 25, 2016

Singapore Feb 2016


Map of Peninsula Malaysia
Image result for Singapore map
Map of  Singapore

" In every free & easy travelling, we tend to learn more about hospitality & tourism in a greater depth " 

" It is convenient to hark back to the good old days, but we live in the present and the future is shaped by what we do now. We can make a difference " 

" After retirement, I started a joke and I told my friends that I am learning to travel like a kinder garden kid to see the world in order to fulfil my dreams and this started the whole world laughing but I didn't see. Looking back, I am half way there - a new life, new aims, worry less & live more ! "

Cheers to all my readers ! Wishing you all a great start in 2016 !

Total expenses incurred (5 days) : Rm140 + S$48 = Rm284 (US$68)

Bus (First Coach): Rm140=US$33.33 ( Subang Jaya, Malaysia  > Bouna Vista, Singapore return )
MRT: S$30
Entrance fee: S$4 + S$9 ( Sentosa Island & Sentosa Merlion Tower)
Accommodation (4 nights) : Home stay in brother Hong's HDB apartment in Sembawang, Singapore
Groceries: S$5
Food: home cooked meals & major lunches & dinners hosted by brother Hong & cousin Sung
Exchange Rates: S$1=Rm2.99, US$1=Rm4.20

Travel Itinerary: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Singapore > Kuala Lumpur ( total to & fro = 700km )


Already a prosperous nation, progressive & liveable !

" My 5 days overland bus trip (First Coach) from Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia to Singapore (20-24/2/2016) - visiting the major tourist attractions & iconic places of Singapore city during the Chinese lunar New Year "

First, I want to thank brother Hong & Jennifer and their children, Wendy & Bryan Cheng for their hospitality & offering me a place of slumber during my 5 days stay in Singapore. It's too good to be able to see & visit Singapore like the good old days of the late 50's & early 60's. My Sunday visit to the Singapore River Walk, National Art Gallery, Esplanade, Chinatown etc brought me back to a flood of memories when I was a primary school kid in the late 50's. I have 15 cousin brothers & sisters in Singapore then so all of us one way and another, had roamed & loitered in Singapore city centre & Chinatown in many of the back lanes, small alleys, scouting for "fighting fishes" & small spiders in drains, small rivers, streams & gardens; visiting Haw Par Villa, Singapore aquarium, zoo & Botanical garden etc. 

Like me, brother Hong & his family now enjoyed free & easy travelling overseas - birds of a feather flock together ! Wendy & Bryan Cheng are in their primary school year and have done well in their studies & extra-mural activities in schools. Bryan is now a member of his school choir practicing hard for a forthcoming inter-school youth event and Wendy preparing to sit for his primary six exam this year and looking forward to a new secondary school life in 2017


Hong, Wendy, Jennifer & Bryan - a happy family !
Bryan & Wendy Cheng - jovial & cheeky ! 

Brother Hong's proud collections 

A big thank you too to cousin Sung, semi-retired ( both of us were born in the same year, 1950 like a Siamese twin - a sleeping Tiger ) for taking me to a number of Singapore's best tourist attractions (Chinese Garden, Botanic Gardens, Orchard Road, Chinatown, Mt Faber Park, Sentosa Island, Changi Airport). Sung was my unofficial tour guide for 2 days while in Singapore and pass the test with flying colors ! Sung has a cosy home, a lovely wife & two bright & charming daughters staying in Faber Crest Housing Estate, Clementi. It was also good to catch up with cousin Sung's family members & cousin sister Chun & her husband, Chan over an evening delicious Chinese dinner meal near his township ! I had also taken the opportunity to visit cousin sister Chun's new apartment unit in Singapore. 


Thank you all for the great hospitality & friendship and making my short stay in Singapore a memorable one ! My 5 day short visit to Singapore was indeed a marvelous one !



Born in the same year & both of us looked like a"Siamese" twin !
Standing tall & smiling like a Merlion at the Sentosa Merlion Tower
A happy reunion dinner hosted by cousin Sung - great food & company

Travel Highlights:

1) Marina Bay Sands


2) Singapore Flyer


3) Gardens by the Bay


4) Botanic Gardens (UNESCO)


5) Raffles Hotel


6) Chinatown


7) Mt Faber Park



8) Sentosa 

Sentosa Merlion




Siloso Beach


Resorts World



9) Singapore River Walk



10) Merlion Park



11) Chinese Garden



12) Parliament House



13) Changi Airport


At the Terminal 1 Changi Airport, I was attracted by the following colorful pictures promoting the 12 Super Sightseeing Attractions in Singapore to tourists passing through this busy terminal:

Indeed, I really enjoyed seeing the stunning landscape of Singapore
Merlion, Esplanade
Changi Airport
Singapore Flyer
National Art Gallery
Sentosa Island
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore Zoo
Esplanade Theatres 
Chinatown
Raffles Hotel
Marina Bay Sands
Botanic Gardens (UNESCO)

Singapore Feb 2016 (Day 1-2)

Day 1 - First Coach Bus ETD Subang Jaya 07.45 > ETA Bouna Vista, Singapore 13.30

Bus trip departing First Coach Terminal, Digital One, Ground Floor, Subang Parade, Subang Jaya to The Star Vista Mall, Vista Exchange Green, Singapore



Bus stopover (30 mins) in Pagoh (Johor) Rest Point, North South Highway, Malaysia




Malaysia & Singapore Causeway Second Link (Tuas 2nd Link)




Arrival at Star Vista Mall, Vista Exchange Green, Singapore


Rochester Shopping Mall - Opposite The Star Vista

MRT train ride from Buona Vista > Sembawang, Singapore



Bouna Vista MRT > Jurong East MRT > Sembawang MRT Station


Shopping centres & HDB Flats near Canberra Road, Sembawang, Singapore ( brother Hong's township )




Lunch at a nearby Sembawang Food Court & a home cooked dinner (Shabu Shabu steam boat) at Brother Hong's home !


Pork Noodles - S$3.00
Brother Hong's family & juniors enjoy travelling 



Day 2 

Breakfast at a nearby Food Court in Canberra Road, Sembawang





MRT Sembawang Station > MRT Raffles Place

1) Singapore River Walk



Elgin Bridge
Boat  Quay
Cavenage Bridge


2) Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles Statute (The Founder of Singapore - 1819)


3) The Fullerton Hotel



4) Asian Civilizations Museum



5) The Parliament House



6) Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce



7) National Heritage Board



8) National Art Gallery

9) Marina Bay Sands Resort & Sky Park (2010)




10) Hilux Bridge, Esplanade



11) Art Science Museum (2011)










12) Esplanade Theatres




13) LV Marina Bay Sands



14) The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands



15) Marina Square Shopping Mall, Raffles Boulevard








16) Singapore Flyer (2008)



17) Raffles Hotel (1887), Beach Road




18) Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (1904), Victoria Street



19) The Civilian War Memorial, Bras Basah Rd & Beach Rd Intersection




20) The Cenotaph (War Memorial), Esplanade



21) Gardens by The Bay


22) Merlion



Day 2 - Lunch at a Chinese Restaurant in Marina Square 


Total food bill (5 dishes)  +  a pot of hot Chinese tea = S$115

Day 2 - Dinner at Safra Yishun Country Club

New England's Fish & Chips set meal = S$13.50