Thursday, May 26, 2022

Great to meet my Malaysian friends

Kuala Lumpur - Time flies so fast and it has been more than 2 years since I am back in KL.  After such a long time, countries are opening up and it was good to have met up with my good friends from KL.


Kuala Lumpur is back to pre-Covid, streets are always in traffic jam, malls are filled with shoppers and restaurants are crowded.   This was Shangri-la and their buffet was crowded on this day.



Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Coach to KL

 Kuala Lumpur - I decided to book a coach to KL via Aeroline - an executive class coach direct from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.  The boarding process is smooth but required a negative ART test before boarding.   With no ART kit with me, had to walk around Harbour front mall to locate a pharmacy to buy one - fortunately it was cheaper than usual at SGD 2.85 per kit set.

The coach did not leave on time and the journey was comfortable.  There was one cabin attendant and he distributed blankets.   A while later, he was back asking what kind of beverage I wanted - coffee, tea or milo.   

mask on throughout the journey

The entire journey took 6hrs as there were 3 stopovers.

1st was Singapore immigration through Tuas, 2nd was the Johor immigration and the 3rd was a 15 mins break if any one wanted a relief or buy some drinks.

Double deck coach

good leg room

The meal provided was minimal - plain rice with sweet and sour fish ball and boiled vegetables.   I was quite hungry so I finish it up.   




Thursday, May 19, 2022

Bread Street Kitchen (MSB) by Gordon Ramsay

Singapore - Attended the Milipol Exhibtion a homeland and cyber security event in Singapore.  Had a booth with my partner but many of the attendees were more interested in homeland security and protection.    

There were guns on displayed like this booth from Glock.


Lunch at MBS was a crowded event and we had to settle for Bread Street Kitchen - expensive for a simple burger.

Michelle, Willy, me and Johnny having lunch

My fancy burger

Good and juicy burger

Johnny had to return to the kitchen his fish and chips dish because the fish was deep fried badly on brown rather an golden colour.   I think the standard has dropped and not worth the money paid for this lunch.  




Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Plank Sourdough Pizza @ Serangoon Gardens

Singapore - Had a welcome lunch for my colleague, Anthony @ Plank Sourdough Pizza.   Ranked one of the best pizzas in Singapore but the pizza was a disappointment as it came with the dough soggy at the bottom.   This dough is not thick enough and the thick ingredients leaked into the dough making it soggy.  Having a soggy thin crust is bad as you had to fold the pizza into two to avoid the ingredients flopping over the table and making a mess.

tomato sauce, mozzarella, parma ham and rocket

tomato sauce, wild mushrooms, shrimps, capers, rocket, smoked salmon,
sour cream and dill

On good note - the garlic bread was the best I ever had.  

Best garlic bread






Monday, May 2, 2022

Last Kampong in Singapore

Singapore - Drove to the last remaining Kampong in Singapore also called Kampong Lorong Buangkok.  Even BBC had a TV programme on this Kampong.   The kampong is a private property located off Yio Chu Kang and can be visited by members of the public.

Tiny mosque within this Kampung

The land is owned by Madam Sng Mui Hong, who inherited it from her father who originally purchased it in 1956.

There are currently 26 families staying in the kampong. Madam Sng rents out the various homes which can be found at Kampong Lorong Buangkok to her tenants for around $30 a month, many of which are descendants of first-generation residents. It is amazing that some long-term renters only have to pay $4.50 a month.




I remember my grandfather's kampong which looks like that but it has been torn down to be built into HDB.   You have chickens roaming the around the houses.





Sembawang Hot Spring

Singapore - I decided to drive with my 2 sons to Sembawang hot spring - famous for being the only hot spring on mainland Singapore.  


We parked at Blk 114 and was a short walk to the hot spring.


Entering the Hot spring park you can smell the strong sulphur lingering in the air.  A 200-metre long walkway named Floral walk was also constructed from the entrance of the park to the hot spring. Along the Floral Walk, one can find a variety of fruit trees and edible plants commonly found in kampungs. 

The hot spring temperature reaches 70c

There were many station but the area for soaking feet was closed today for maintenance.   We just boiled the eggs to eat - 

Eggs in hot spring water

me and my sons