Singapore Duck tours

I started this blog as a log for our (Allan & I) travelling pics and tales  but………. I guess we just didn’t travel enough to fill it up, so in between the travelling we included other stuff.  However, whenever we travel, even if it is to a small tiny village in Malaysia or to someplace almost everybody from Malaysia has been to, like Singapore, I want to make sure I record the trip because I want to help other travellers who encounter the same problem as I do – not being able to find enough pics to “see” a place I am about to visit – and I mean pics about the small things that matter, like the random stuff you’d see, and the kind of food you can try, right down to the “untouristy” stuff you can do, like visiting the wet market.

In this post though, the pics are about one of the really touristy stuff you can do……..

THE DUCK TOURS

Its good for ……….

the thrill of riding in an amphibious vehicle (a new experience) that was used in Vietnam war (a historical experience),

the thrill of paying in Ringgit Malaysia (only during this Singapore Big Sale period) if  you bring your passport, embarkation card and money in RM

a good quick look at the different attractions like the Esplanade, future F1 Track, Singapore flyer and so on

making yourself feel less guilty about going somewhere, only to spend your time shopping, shopping and shopping……….. you get to console yourself by saying “at least I did some sightseeing”

ok……… this is the ticket counter for the duck tours.  It is at Suntec City.  Just take the MRT to City Square, then follow the sign boards to Suntec City. Its a comfortable 10 mins walk underground through some shopping malls, all air-conditioned.

“Superman” wearing the “Duck tours” sticker

The vehicle is just outside the ticket booth.  A word of caution, there is NO toilet on board plus it is an hour’s tour, plus they very kindly give you a free bottle of mineral water AND make you drink it during the tour……….

 It wasn’t really that bumpy, but can get pretty hot, so at some point of the tour, I DID feel kind of sleepy but restrained myself because of this sign board.

2 drivers…… one to drive on land and the other to captain it when in water

The esplanade – Singapore Performing Arts centre.

Looks like a durian, but don’t belittle it, all the little aluminium shell-like tiles on the roof serves a role in giving shade to the double laminated glass roof underneath and yet still providing excellent view of the marina outside.

The cost of building this place? SG600 million!

 mouth of the Singapore river

Stadium Waterfront – I think the stage is a floating one.  Next to it is the Singapore Flyer.  ALthough its not the biggest wheel in the world, its the tallest, mainly because its on the roof of a shopping mall, the Retail Terminal.

 

Another angle of the Singapore Flyer

 This is where the F1 track will be

All that you saw in the pics above are sitting on relaimed land, and so it this ……

 Coming up, Marina Bay Sands, complete with a casino.

Our Genting’s Resorts World Casino will be on Sentosa Island

When this dam is completed, all these water in the Marina Bay will be processed into drinking water. This dam lies across the mouth of the bay and Marina Bay will be a freshwater lagoon. 

Smart, aren’t they?

 

Random stuff in Singapore

Funny stuff you’d see in Singapore

These buns are not real, but we didn’t now that at first………..Allan “poked” at it and I scolded him saying that the poor guy who had to eat this bun would have a dirty bun!

 You know the funny thing about humans? You can place a sign informing people that there’s nothing inside, and what do you know? Most of the people who enter the shop (including us :p) will not be able to resist peeping through the hole………. and guess what? There’s REALLY NOTHING inside! Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

I had fun rushing Allan and Nic to HURRY! MIX IT!  – For a picture of the food, look at the previous entry.

Food, food, food

Our trip to Singapore was dominated by food, lots of it………..

Japanese food

Hakka “Lui char” – a vegetarian dish – have to develop a liking for it

Pasta at Tony Roma’s

Pepper lunch box

toast and half boiled egg at “Toast Box”, Food Junction

 

Curry noodles at Changi Airport before we left for home

Allan, Veron and Anna in Singapore……..

well, our main intention was to celebrate with this guy because he just graduated from NTU and can be officially known as an Electrical and Electronics Engineer now…….

so we wanted to go in July for his convocation but since Anna is back for the summer holidays, we decided to go in June instead so that she can visit with her aunty, uncle and cousin………. plus get some shopping thrown in…….

apart from that, we went for the “Duck tour”…………

………. found some interesting “bread”……… (more in the next entry, or just read Anna’s blog la)

 

………. there ARE SOME nice food in Singapore………….

 

Someplace expensive

Got this from Julia, and its really funny…………..

 

 When I got home last night ,  My wife demanded                           

that I take her out to some place expensive………………  

…

…

…

…

…

…
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                 So I took her to a petrol station !!!!!!!                 

 

Trail behind Highland towers

 Took a walk with Allan up to the slopes behind Highland Towers today.  It was burning hot, but I really felt it was worth it, when we reached the top.

Our 3 dogs had a whale of a time during the walk

The 2 remaining blocks of the Highland Towers………looking really sad.

This will be a great place to watch the fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.  Anyone game?

My hand phone is really limited for photography, but it DOES have a “panaroma” feature which I really like.  Xianjin should really make a trip up here, with Kingsley to take some pics; just imagine how Kingsley’s profile will look, with this in the background! We can’t do it, need to have King’s “emo” looking features

the terrain up there

My house from way up there.

U of O President’s list

Congratulations to all our Malaysian students and to our dearest Anna for your achievements. 

University of the Ozarks announces honor lists

Clarksville, Ark. — University of the Ozarks has announced its President’s and Dean’s lists for the Spring 2008 semester.

To be included on the President’s List, a student must carry at least 12 hours and maintain a 4.00 grade point average. To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must carry at least 12 hours and achieve between a 3.5 and 3.9 GPA.

President’s List
Claudia Aguero Ruiz, Nicaragua
Daniela Bermudez Gardea, Mexico
Belinda Birrer, Yellville, AR
Silvia Chan, Panama
Daniela Chavarria Tenorio, Costa Rica
Mei Yee Chew, Malaysia
Evelyn Chin, Malaysia
Huy Do, Clarksville, AR
Maria Duarte Noguera, Nicaragua
Brittney Flinn, Lamar, AR
Brittney Hein, Grand Prairie, TX
Dustin James, Wickes, AR
Ogulshirin Kakayeva, Falls Church, VA
Zi Jian Khor, Malaysia
Michelle Linares, Honduras
Judith Lopez Garcia, Mexico
Dustin Perry, Plano, TX
Meagan Ponseigo, Plano, TX
Tiffanie Rainey, Clinton, AR
Janna Randall, Benton, AR
Gildamaria Rangel Carrera, Guatemala
Pablo Rivera Reyes, El Salvador
Veronica Rodriguez Flores, El Salvador
Jack Rossmaier, Clarksville, AR
Fidel Samour Bahaia, Fayetteville, AR
Luis Sanchez Navarro, Mexico
Kate Schoenhals, Medford, OR
Joseph Skof, Hayden, CO
Amy Smedley, Pearcy, AR
Steffi Teo, Malaysia
Martha Vasquez Aparicio, El Salvador
Kari Wood, Fischer, TX
Lay Hoong Yap, Malaysia
Yee Zhin Yong, Malaysia

Psalm 37

My Heavenly Father is gracious, He sent me this passage twice these last 7 days. I am reassured, I am loved…..by my Heavenly Father

 

Passage taken from www.biblegateway.com (NIV Version)

1 ^[a] Do not fret because of evil men 
       or be envious of those who do wrong;

 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, 
       like green plants they will soon die away.

 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; 
       dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

 4 Delight yourself in the LORD 
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 5 Commit your way to the LORD; 
       trust in him and he will do this:

 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, 
       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; 
       do not fret when men succeed in their ways, 
       when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; 
       do not fret—it leads only to evil.

 9 For evil men will be cut off, 
       but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; 
       though you look for them, they will not be found.

 11 But the meek will inherit the land 
       and enjoy great peace.

 12 The wicked plot against the righteous 
       and gnash their teeth at them;

 13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, 
       for he knows their day is coming.

 14 The wicked draw the sword 
       and bend the bow 
       to bring down the poor and needy, 
       to slay those whose ways are upright.

 15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, 
       and their bows will be broken.

 16 Better the little that the righteous have 
       than the wealth of many wicked;

 17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, 
       but the LORD upholds the righteous.

 18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, 
       and their inheritance will endure forever.

 19 In times of disaster they will not wither; 
       in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

 20 But the wicked will perish: 
       The LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, 
       they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

 21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, 
       but the righteous give generously;

 22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, 
       but those he curses will be cut off.

 23 If the LORD delights in a man’s way, 
       he makes his steps firm;

 24 though he stumble, he will not fall, 
       for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

 25 I was young and now I am old, 
       yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken 
       or their children begging bread.

 26 They are always generous and lend freely; 
       their children will be blessed.

 27 Turn from evil and do good; 
       then you will dwell in the land forever.

 28 For the LORD loves the just 
       and will not forsake his faithful ones. 
       They will be protected forever, 
       but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

 29 the righteous will inherit the land 
       and dwell in it forever.

 30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, 
       and his tongue speaks what is just.

 31 The law of his God is in his heart; 
       his feet do not slip.

 32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, 
       seeking their very lives;

 33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power 
       or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

 34 Wait for the LORD 
       and keep his way. 
       He will exalt you to inherit the land; 
       when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

 35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man 
       flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

 36 but he soon passed away and was no more; 
       though I looked for him, he could not be found.

 37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; 
       there is a future ^[b] for the man of peace.

 38 But all sinners will be destroyed; 
       the future ^[c] of the wicked will be cut off.

 39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; 
       he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

 40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; 
       he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, 
       because they take refuge in him.

More on Malacca

 Visited another 2 chendol stalls in Malacca This one was opposite the 88 Jonker desert dessert shop, didn;t get the address though, but reckon it must be a number greater than 88. Its a corner shop

 

This shop is 88 Jonker Desert Dessert.  The chendol here is good.  A word of caution though, go slow on the brown sugar…….ask them to put less sugar cos its REALLY sweet.

 

You know what?  Didn’t manage to get the name of this shop, or rather, I have forgotten, but I know its supposed to be the ONLY shop in Malaysia that sells a coffee that’s a concoction of coffee beans/powder chosen from the 13 states in Malaysia.  Didn’t try it cos I can’t take caffeine

Anyway, the shop is located on a street on the right of Jonker street (if you’re coming from the entrance and heading towards St Pauls/A Famosa)

 

 

This is the 3rd chendol shop we visited.  Its on a road farthest right of Jonker street

 

 

While the youth were sweating it out in the Amazing Race, we, the older ones went round trying the different kinds of chendol.  This shop is famous for its chendol and laksa, but I’ll say the service doesn’t quite match up to the food. The chendol is a different type, not the thick version, as is sold in the other shops. It really depends on your taste and what you like.

In conclusion, the price for a bowl of Chendol in Malacca is more expensive than what you would pay for in Kuala Lumpur, so I guess having chendol there is really for the fun of it and for the joy of having “tea” with friends.

Follow up on petrol price increase

I agree wholeheartedly with the writer of this article. 

“IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SUBSIDISE FUEL, THEN DON’T TAX CARS!!!!”

I mean Anna bought her car in the states for USD2000+, yeah, the insurance and gas kills, but that’s the actual cost of the stuff, so the car is also sold at the ACTUAL cost, not inflated by many, many times!