Before the Train Ride

I have always dreamt of riding in a train. I am not sure what triggered the dream but I could still see clearly in my mind how watching Before Sunrise made the dream stronger than ever. As much as I want to meet a stranger in a train, who after the train ride will be more than just an ordinary acquaintance but a real, dear friend, I know quite well that the dream would never ever transpire if I will not think, even at the very least, of riding into one at all.

 

 

 

Before going to Singapore, I realized that this time was a good opportunity to try riding one. Not only that I have been reading a ton of web pages that offer stories about their train experience from Singapore to Bangkok days before then but I was also bound to travel with my mom and brother, which although nullifies the possibility that I will be meeting a stranger in a train, was in reality, made the dream safer and reachable to pursue and was more convenient since I already have the needed company.

 

Prior riding, you have the option to buy your tickets through:

1. online booking (website or email)

2. phone booking (you could call the KTM Call Center locally at 1-300-88-5862 or +603-2267-1200 for overseas)

3. visiting ticketing counters of KTMB

 

I advise you to get the tickets way before your scheduled date of trip rather than getting one on the day of your trip itself so that you could still choose your preferred seats/sleepers and so you could also spare yourself from the inconvenience of having to found out that there are no more tickets available.

 

If you decide to either buy or collect your tickets from the Singapore station or if ever you have decided to start your train trip from the Singapore station, the amount you’ll be paying for the tickets will be the same amount as that of the Malaysian ringgit amount but with Singapore’s currency (RM30 –> S$30). Basically, this makes the price of the ticket double as what you should be paying if you are to buy the tickets through ticketing counters in Malaysia or if you are to start your journey in Malaysia.

 

 

This particular station in Tanjong Pagar will be nearing its close down since a new station in Woodlands, which is found in the northern part of Singapore and obviously closer to Johor Bahru, is now under construction and will be operating on the third quarter of 2011. Despite the unreasonable pricing they have for their tickets here, you might as well visit the station, if you happened to be here, for its historical value. The easiest way to get here is through an MRT ride to Tanjong Pagar Station.

 

 

We made our way to Johor Bahru, Malaysia through the Causeway link found at the bus terminal along Queen street corner Cheng Yan Pl. Queen Street is in parallel to Victoria Street and could be easily located as it is just a walk away from Raffles Hospital and Bugis MRT Station.

 

Aside from this, you could also board bus #170 from Kranji MRT to Larkin Bus Terminal and bus #160 from Jurong East Interchange.

 

The cost of our bus ride is S$2.40 each. It will only take about 30 minutes, at the very least, to get to Johor Bahru Railway Station excluding immigration procedures and bus waiting.

 

 

We bought our tickets from the new and modern Johor Bahru Railway Station and decided to go for the Johor Bahru – Malacca (Tampin Station) – Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) – Penang (Butterworth Station) adventure since that would already mean access of two UNESCO World Heritage sites (Malacca and Penang) in just a single trip.

 

The one-way trip to Butterworth Station, excluding the trip from Tampin to Kuala Lumpur since we opted to just ride the bus from there because of convenience in our part, cost us only RM 201 all in all (RM 67 for each of us). The amount already includes a train ride from Johor Bahru to Tampin in a 2nd class sleeper and a train ride from KL Sentral to Butterworth station in a 2nd class seat.

 

So this is it for now! I will be posting my train ride experience anytime soon. Just stand by!

Kid for a Day

Felt like I was transported back in time when we went to Universal Studios Singapore last week. The closest thing I got when it comes to theme parks is just Hong Kong Disneyland. We went there four years ago and it was also the last time I have gone into one since then. That is precisely why I got so giddy upon knowing that I will spend my Saturday inside a theme park!

This mango snow ice surely gave us the unbelievable energy to kick start our day.

 

How will we get there?

Go to Harbour Front station through MRT and ascend to the topmost level of Vivo City to catch a train ride to Sentosa Island. You could get tickets for the train ride for a mere S$3 on the ticket counter found beside the platform or you could just use your ezlink card to get inside it. Alight on Waterfront Station and voila, a short walk thereafter would already take you to Universal Studios!

How much are the tickets?

One day weekend/weekday pass will cost you this much: Adult (S$72/S$66); Child (S$52/S$48); Senior (S$36/S$32), while going for a two day pass would cost you this for Adult (S$118); Child (S$88); Senior (S$58). If you are not a fan of queuing, get the Express Pass and long lines would not be a problem anymore! Express Pass cost additional S$30 for Off-Peak/ S$48 for Peak/ S$68 for Super Peak seasons.

How many days would it take to roam around the area?

The place is really small and a whole day is already enough to fully experience the whole place.

And how about the opening hours?

The park is open from 9am to 6pm so be there as early as possible to enjoy all the attractions!

Universal Studios Singapore is subdivided to 7 themed areas: Madagascar, Far Far Away, The Lost World, Ancient Egypt, Sci-Fi City, Hollywood and New York.

You have to watch out for The Crate Adventure since the site was still under construction when we went there. Nonetheless, kids would absolutely love King Julien’s Beach Party-Go-Round.

This is the enchanting palace of Far Far Away!

The main attractions include Shrek 4D Adventure, Donkey Live, Enchanted Airways and Magic Potion Spin. But what I like the most among all of the attractions here is the Donkey Live since the show is highly interactive for it gives you the chance to sing along with the Donkey and at the same time ask him a question that you have been thinking of asking if ever you got the chance to see him up close.

WaterWorld is a 40-minute live water show full of death defying stunts that will surely leave you awestruck. They only do three shows per day so might as well check the schedules first before hitting the rides. 

A good combination of WaterWorld and Rapids Adventure will surely leave you soaking WET.

But fret not since a ride on the Canopy Flyer would dry you off easily.

Let hieroglyphics and Egyptian obelisks of Ancient Egypt enchant you back to time.

A lot of high Egyptian guards loom the area. I have to warn you though that aside from their freaky stance, they have also become so adept on scaring and surprising people out of their wits. So be prepared!

It was really bad timing that both duelling coasters Battlestar Galactica CYCLON (blue track) and HUMAN (red track) at Sci-Fi City were closed down that day. As the name implies, HUMAN is a more “human” ride as compared to CYCLON. So you better think twice before hitting the CYCLON!

After trying all the rides in Sci-Fi City, run to New York to experience Lights, Camera, Action! and see for yourself how filmmakers use the power of special effects to turn an empty sound stage to a setting for a major hurricane.

Watch the Universal Monsters come to life in Pantages Hollywood Theater at Hollywood and be entertained in a one of a kind rock and roll musical.

After which, you are basically finished! So what else to do? Have a second take on the attractions. Wait for the Lake Hollywood Spectacular if you happened to be there on a Friday and Saturday. Savour the littlest of all the intricate details in the park. Have fun.

 

Funky Finds @ Bugis

Singapore

National Library. That’s the first thing that surely pops up to my mind every time I hear the word Bugis. A true testament of geekiness and undying love and hate relationship I had built with books indeed, amidst the plethora of words that could be associated with it.

But not anymore! National Library has now been moved a long way down on my list of places to visit when I am bound to go to Bugis or just find myself wandering in it.

So, what on earth could have possibly replaced National Library in my heart?

 

Arab Street or Kampong Glam is as unpretentious as it could get. With colourful and vibrant two-storey shophouses, each of which offers a different experience from its neighboring shops, parading on your left and right as you negotiate your way towards the seemingly un-Singapore lane, you will surely find yourself getting drawn to its atmosphere and charm in every step that you would take.

Obviously a Muslim district, visitors could not help but flood the place and indulge themselves, too, together with the locals on the richness of the latter’s culture. With the presence of conservatively-dressed Muslims going to the Sultan Mosque at a particular period of the day, newly washed sheeshas hanging deliberately in front of every restaurant that we passed by and menus that will surely encourage you to uncontrollably salivate, which includes Mutton Murtabak, Shawarma, Kebab and Hummus just to name a few, you could not help but grasp minutely but immediately the Arabian way of life.

The place is a gold mine of fabrics, for those one of a kind evening gowns that you like to have; Oriental carpets, for that lovely home of yours; non-alcoholic perfumes with the Muslim customers in mind; rattan products and knick knacks for yourself and for your home and many other great finds that will surely make you think that you’re in an endless treasure hunt.

The treasure hunt does not stop once you finished the whole of Arab Street. There are still streets adjacent to it that are truly worthy of your time such as Haji Lane, Bali Lane, Bussorah Street and Baghdad Street. Since we were so pressed for time, we were only able to ransack Haji Lane.

Haji Lane is a quaint, little alley situated just beside the more tourist-thronged Arab street. A hub for the fashion forward people and indie label whores who love to look around for unusual fashion finds in independent local fashion boutiques and who craves for a breath of fresh air from the shiny and oh-so-generic vibe of the stores along Orchard Road.

 

Modparade houses an extensive range of clothing choices; from cute daily wear, mostly on basic and neutral colors, that will still surely make you stand out amidst the crowd and flirty little black dresses passable enough as both day and evening wear.

I simply adore this Sweet Pair for its innumerable number of cute and eye candy shoes on display. Eye popping dresses and blouses on the racks due to its dainty and girly styles and vibrant colors make you want to grab and try all of them!

 

There is also A Thousand Tales for your home needs…

 

and Friends for their wide range of ultra chic and rocker chic dresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those hidden gems, playful trinkets and eye-catchy tees, Queendora is the way to go!

Salad Shop is a clothing and home accessories shop. The white facade and interior were made to contrast the abundance of black colored items against the white ones. It also offers a wide variety of home products which are pleasing to the eyes and at the same time functional.

 

Took an ice cream break from all the walking and gawking we had done during this exquisite journey in The Ice Cream Man. Yumminess! Interesting flavors they got there. To demonstrate how out of this world their flavors are, vodka, white wine and red wine flavored ice cream were present in their menu! Anyway, I stuck with the caramel-apple flavoured one. Sweet!

 

This nice ice cream shop is manned by these two lovely people, Melvin and Claudia at that time. So generous of them to concoct for me a flavor that I want to try the next time I visit the store. Have to phone them first though so that they could make it for me. Care to help me on the flavor of ice cream that I should ask them to prepare? I want it to be as wacky as possible!

 

So many stores to visit, but so little time! There is still a good number of stores that we have not been able to visit when we were there; add to it the independent shops positioned on the other lanes.

I also promise myself to go back here for the food maybe. A lot of restaurants that caters mouth-watering dishes and promises a seemingly good time while being blasted with soothing indie music awaits my eventual return.

For now, I am more than contented and happy with what i saw. Till the next Bugis experience you guys! Hope I will be able to go back here before I fly back to the Philippines.

Arab Street is just a 10-minute walk away from Bugis MRT Station.

Sunday’s Best : Pulau Ubin

Singapore

Yesterday is truly one of my happiest days in Singapore.
Why is that so?
It is because this is the day when Pulau Ubin has been introduced to me.
The island of Pulau Ubin (Granite Island) is a true haven for nature lovers. Contrast to the uberly modernized and industrialized mainland Singapore, this particular island of the country has been just slightly touched by urbanization. Mainland Singapore may have the most updated and modern public facilities there are, but Ubin’s more or less one hundred inhabitants on the other hand still relies on well for their water consumption and on diesel powered generators for their electricity. It has been said that you can practically envision from there alone Singapore during the 1960’s. That’s how pure and virgin the whole of the island is!




How to Get There
You can get to Pulau Ubin by taking first the MRT going to Tanah Merah Station. From there, you just have to board Bus No. 2 to get to the Changi Village Terminal. The bus ride would only take you approximately 30 minutes before you get to the bus interchange. Changi Point Ferry Terminal would only be just a minute walk away upon alighting there.

You can get bumboats to Ubin from the ferry terminal. The ride will cost you $2.50 each, plus $2 if you are bringing with you your bike. Though you should take into consideration that the boat will only depart after it has already been filled up with the needed 12 passengers, fret not since the boat could be easily filled with 12 people. In our case, we waited  for only 5 minutes. Nonetheless, you could also rent the boat for $30 if you do not want to wait. The bumboat service operates from sunrise to sunset and you could easily make arrangements with the operators when you want to go to and from Ubin after dark.
Take a heavy meal or buy a lot of water or snacks first before getting in the bumboat if you must. The meals in the island cost twice as much as the price that you will be paying if you take your meal in mainland Singapore. Also, you will be spending your day either walking or cycling around the premise so better be fuelled up!

The boat ride takes only 10 minutes or so.


After which, you are already in Ubin! Yey!




How to Roam the Island
You could visit the information kiosk, located right behind us in the above picture, to get a map of the island. Apart from this, they are also offering free guided walks of Ubin to visitors. How cool is that?! However, because of the recent oil spill that has affected a great part of the island, particularly Chek Jawa, the walks had been suspended for them to monitor first the situation better. I am not sure what the development is now regarding the walks, if it has already commenced again or what, since the incident happened 2 months ago and we have not asked them about it when we were there but if you are interested to know anything about it, you could just freely approach and ask the very accommodating people at the kiosk or you could just visit their site here if you want to know more about it.
The island is 1020-hectare in size and could be toured and enjoyed either by riding a van or cycling. Well, you could also try walking or running if you want to savour all the goodness the island has to offer since the island is really teeming with a wide range of ecological diversity which is buffet goodness for the eyes.

If you opt to go about the island through cycling, bicycle rentals could easily be spotted upon entering the arch. In the shop we had gone into, you could rent their bike for $6, $8 for the fairly new ones, for the whole day (until 6 pm). I would advise you to try going further to check the rental prices of other stores. I was told that they go lower as you go farther from the main entrance.

You could also hire taxis from here. Many of the drivers are experienced and well-versed about the island so might as well use this to your advantage. You could ask them to bring you to places where you want to look for things that you would otherwise not encounter if you will be touring without guide. Rates could be negotiated and they will also willingly give you their calling cards so that you could easily call them just in case you already want for them to pick you up to either go back the village or go to another place.




Where to go There




Chek Jawa Wetlands is one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems. Basically, this is the main attraction of the whole island. You could reach the wetlands with just a 30 minute bike ride, longer if you choose to stop and savour the surrounding or just rest every once in a while.
You do not really need a map since you will never really get lost. The trail is very visitor-friendly with the presence of signboards and all. And there are a lot of people too who goes here, especially on weekends. If you are a bit lost and have not gotten any idea where to go to, you could just basically head to where the flow of people is going.


My mom definitely beats me at this. She can still bike through upward slopes with so much ease! Shocking. Haha.

Sweat a lot after the ride!
Upon arriving the premise of Chek Jawa, it is mandatory that you leave your bike before entering the gate. You could go to the information kiosk, which is found right before the intersection at the end of the path, if you need any prepping up before actually roaming around the area. But as I told you, the place is visitor-friendly so do not be afraid to explore it. They also have a drink store there if you need any refreshment!

This is the intersection and the starting point of all the paths there are. You could go about the wetlands any way you want to but for our case we visited first the viewing jetty then went, after which, to the Mangrove Boardwalk & Viewing Tower and exited afterwards from the Coastal Boardwalk.

Viewing Jetty

You could see a nice Tudor-styled cottage behind us which houses an HSBC sponsored gallery upon arriving at the vicinity. That, by the way, is their visitor centre.


Ooh! That’s already the viewing jetty behind us. This the main view that you will be seeing upon exiting the back door of the house.



Just a perfect amount of sun that day and very windy indeed. I could literally just lie there all day and close my eyes to sleep. Wished we had also seen the place during low tide. The rocks and granite boulders seem lovely to see personally.

Mangrove Boardwalk and Viewing Tower
We transferred to the Mangrove Boardwalk and Viewing Tower after taking in all the view and pleasure the jetty has to offer.


This is the Viewing Tower by the way. I am not really sure why we did not go up there! So high, the view must be amazing.



There is a lot of resting place along the way, just in case you need to sit and just take a break from all the walking, fish and animal spotting and sightseeing.



You are already in the Coastal Boardwalk if you are here.
The trip does not stop there after you had already wandered the whole of Chek Jawa. There are still a lot of trails and obstacles to go through, places to visit and things to do in Pulau Ubin.

You want to try fishing? Well there’s a lake near the main entrance of the island.
You want to camp there for the night? You could also do that since there a couple or more camping sites present in the vicinity! There are also lodges there to accommodate you however long you would want to stay on the island.
You want to kayak? You could kayak all you want!
There’s also a quarry along the trail back to the main village if you want to see and take picture of a breathtaking view.
I even saw a monitor lizard cross the street in front of me. I actually stopped and waited for it to cross to the other side since I was scared I might run over his long tongue and tail. And well I do not want it to get angry with me, it already looks scary to start off! Haha.
Anyway, I just want to say that the possibilities are endless! You would surely see something wonderful and interesting anywhere you choose to set your eyes into. You just have to be open about the experience to see the beauty of it all!
Pulau Ubin is a really nice place for families and groups alike to visit. Both adults and kids will surely enjoy the simple adventure and treat the island has to offer. This is a seemingly good place indeed for you to escape from all the noise and clamour that are going around in the city; a superior place to be in solitude or just to enjoy nature. If you want to experience something new out of Singapore, well, I truly believe that this is the place to be!

Come now! I promise you, you will never regret it.

HOPE YOU

GIVE THE WORLD A…

AND THE WORLD WILL SURELY SMILE BACK AT YOU.