Uber and Grab are good

Been using Uber quite regularly especially going to the airport. The referral fee system is very good especially if you go to overseas and you happened to buy a local SIM. Uber x is especially a good alternative compare to taxi since their booking fee is low. With the endless promo code sometimes 5km Uber ride can be as cheap as $2. We use Uber and Grab interchangeably depends on the real time price. This private hired car alternative has definitely changed the commuters' behavior traveling short distance. No more feeder bus no more walking to MRT station.

Sabrina first zoo outing

Brought Sabrina to family day at the zoo for the first time. Bb spent about 5 hours there, weather is good. Overall it was quite fun. When coney island is open I will bring bb there. In dec we can go to river safari

Staycation @ Changi Cove Xmas 2014

We have no idea how is it going to be like. Booking of the first ever staycation has been made even before bb was born. At first I was skeptical about hotel at Changi area. Moreover it is a refurbished one. But the moment I stepped into the lobby, I knew it is a gem.
Changi Cove, located at Cranwell Rd near Changi Beach Club, Coastal Settlement, old Changi Hospital etc. Not quite accesible that explaines the tranquility. Not much human noise but the sound of birds chirping.
This hotel was opened in 2013. Most of the facilities still look quite new. 2 blocks are linked via a walkway. They don't serve food but only drinks.
Our room is facing greens. Nothing much to do at the hotel. Great place for rest and relax.
We had dinner n shopping at Changi Airport. And then spent most of the time nursing and playing with bb back in the hotel room. I had cups of complementary nespresso, too. The next day we had breakfast, stroll around the hotel compound n took a short walk along the boardwalk. Checked out at 12pm and lunch nearby then drove > 0.5 hours to reach home. That concludes our first ever staycation in Singapore.

Back to Ubin, after >10 years

Ubin trip was originally planned in 2014. But elite canton dinner gang founder 心血来潮 and executed our plan 1 year in advance. Early morning took our favorite prawn noodles at Beach Road for breakfast. Since the last time patronizing the store, the prawn noodles still taste like 超级无敌海景佛跳墙虾面! 

Arrived in Changi Point Ferry Terminal (CPFT) right on time but waited for organizer. While waiting, we wandered around and totally amazed by the way this place being named. It is just a jetty. 

A $2.50 boat ride brought us to Ubin at around 9am. The entrance is looks the same, maybe more bicycle store. 

Being a typical cautious SPR, nobody can decide whether to rent a bike or take a van ride. Heck la... Drink coconut juice first. 

Comparing $10 bike rental with $2 van ride, the choice was quite obvious. A local driver sent us to the main attraction on Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa, within 10 min. 

At Chek Jawa, lots of rules to observe.

No running

No swimming

No cycling

No fishing

We followed the trial and ascended to the top of a viewing tower. A bit shaky at the top. The scorching hot sun forced us to descend after just a few minutes.

As we continue our walk into the mangrove, we notice some interesting creatures, like Fiddler crab. Tiny crab with single pincer. The boardwalk along the coastal is quite scenic, too. 

Before leading back to the public jetty, we detour to the No. 1 Chek Jawa visitor center. 

On our way back, we saw many wild boars & a nice lake.

The 3.4 km trial took us about 45 min to reach Season Live Seafood Restaurant. Exhausted. We desperately needed food. Surprisingly the food price is very similar to Siu Dou.

After a short rest, we headed back to Changi Village around 1pm. Second round, Coastal Settlement Restaurant. Can't resist the temptation of the nice looking desserts. 

Just like many other restaurant in Siu Dou, we chatted loudly across the table in a 85dB environment. 

Gardens by The Bay opens

探险精神再度被激发 To The Northeast

Last Sunday our spirit of adventrue was once again aroused. After church service, we drove all the way from town to Yishun. First stop was Lower Seletar Reservoir. A small fountain & water feature was newly built (June 2011) for the kids to play with, under the hot sun. How smart.

Next to the fountain is the lookout point link to a jetty-look-alike sitting area. The sitting area is partially covered & very windy. It has a broad view of golf club on one side and people kayaking on the other. This place is not bad but there is absolutely nothning to do. So we left after 15 minutes.

There is a price for every adveture outing, fuel. After topping up fuel at the nearest ESSO station, we contiue journey. On a unnamed bridge, we stopped to watch people fishing. There is also a kelong nearby. The feeling is like back to Malaysia, but a safer version. As we continue, we popped by Seletar Country Club and nearly hit a BMW. Surprisingly the bimmer driver was very polite & did not pursue us. Otherwise, we'll be dead meat. Made 2 rounds at the carpark and decided to leave. At a crossroad, a wrong turn brought us to Punggol. The road is just so empty without any road sign. So we ended up at Punggol Waterway, where a girl was attacked by 8 stray dogs last year. There is also a Punggol Watertown new development launching event. We are curious to find out the master plan around the area so we just walked in. To my astonishment, the place is packed! Agents & potential buyers everywhere. Food is provided, too. Without hesitation, we pretend to "checked out" the show room and then walked straight to the food counter. The chicken satay tasted the same if not better than Al-Azhar, his favourite satay in Singapore.

New Condo Development - Watertown 

Free food :)

Filled our stomach & moved on to Punggol Park. This is another park with park connector, foot path, cycling track but no bench. So tired walking around the park.

Hubby said I don't have the cute 肥头 anymore...

We notice the people around are mainly foreigners. Where are all the Singaporean? Probably because there is no foodcourt here so Singaporean shun away from here. I wonder how appetizing it is to eat with presence of acid smell from palm oil production across the Johor Straits.

Night Safari

Singapore is considered quite successful when it comes to wild life conservation. Recently we visited Night Safari with some friends. The thrill started with Bongo Burger dinner & fire dance.

Upon making our grand entrace into the park, we headed straight to the Night Show. In the middle of the animal show, a giant snake escape from the cage & scared the hell out of kp. haha... After the show, we took a tram around the park. Most of the animals are from the family of cows, deers or pigs. Lazy & tame. Hyena is the only active ones. Also witness a giant flying squirrel flew above my head, once.

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas!!

This year Christmas falls on Sunday so the following Monday is a public holiday. Due to predictable bad weather, we decided to stay in Singapore during the long weekend.

On 24 Dec, we visited Maritime Museum, RWS. This musuem showcase the history of a famous voyage by Cheng Ho & the story around the places he passed by.

Maritime Museum

Cheng Ho's ship in the background

In the evening, we had Verve Pizza at Marina Bay. A band was performing Christmas Carolling at the open space for FREE. After dinner, we took a stroll and only then we realized how bustling MBS has become.

Christmas eve dinner at Verve Pizza

Strolling by the Bay

On 26 Dec morning, we head to Gardens By the Bay, East. This garden is next to Marina Bay Golf Club. Overseeing many landmark, including MBS, Singapore Flyer, Marina Barage & new conservatory, therefore officially the best 拍拖胜地 in Singapore. Perfect for couple to spend quality time. One little set back, this place is not accessible by public transport.

The toilet behind is quite cool

 We stopped the car and kinda nuah inside for a while before moving on for lunch.