SENTOSA ISLAND

9/3/2014

Here are more photos from the Gardens...for me its truly a wonderful place to enjoy....

Imitating the professionals..... only using handphone though!

a last lingering view of Marina Sands..

Dinner was not included in the trip and the guide took us the Chinatown Park complex for our meals. 

the Tourist Information Center 

The Buddhist Temple in the Chinatown featuring the architectural style of the Tang  Dynasty. We were unable to visit as it was already closed.  

This stall displayed a Certificate and the queue was very long here.  Guess the  food must be good- fried meehoon, chee cheong fun, yam Cake and porridge and also the dumplings!  I bought some dumpling back and they are very good indeed especially the green beans dumpling!  

After dinner we were taken to the Hotel Fragrance to check in and hence ended Day 1.

Hotel was a budget hotel, very basic amenities but clean.  

Thanks to my friend we had a good night sleep..... she is a frequent traveller and had her own set of rules when entering a hotel room to ensure a good night sleep....LOL! A good tip she gave me... always bring along some kaffir lime leaves and the lime itself. Anyway this aromatic herb did perfumed the room and helped to relax us.    

Next morning, breakfast was also on our own expenses and the bus took us to the Bugis Junction Food Court.    

Walked around by the Guanyin Temple. 

 

Next stop - Sentosa Island- Resort World Casino.

  

We were given 2 hours to either gamble, shop or visit the Universal Studio (is it possible?) around here as we were to leave for KL after this. 

As I have been to the Universal Studio before, I just walked around.

Then I decided to take the Monorail over to the Vivo Shopping complex..

View along the ride.

And I bought this home from Tang's.....

Happy Call Pan.... have seen some posts on this pan and can't wait to try it out soon. 

Took the monorail back and met up with the rest of the company.  

We left for KL  and on the way back, we stopped at Yong Peng - to YoYo Biscuit Factory and some of the ladies also went for  some fishball soup.   We finally reached KL around 8.00pm.  

This trip has been interesting (at the casinos);  relaxing (by the Gardens)  and fun (with the ladies in the bus)!

Have a great weekend .

LADIES' DAY OUT ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

8/3/2014
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

I had a marvellous weekend in the "world's most expensive city" (The Star 8/3/2014) to celebrate the 103rd International Women's Day!

I joined my friend and a group of wonderful ladies (plus a handful of men) for a 2D/1N trip to Singapore. This is a typical "get rich" trip to the casinos with a visit to the Gardens by the Bay throw in.... which I was more interested in.  Since I missed the Gardens the previous visit,  I grab the opportunity this time.

We departed from Kuala Lumpur around 9 a.m. Stopover at Skudai for a 8-course lunch at a Chinese Restaurant (forgot to note the name) and by 2pm we crossed the Singapore border.

By now I guess  most of the passengers must be experiencing the "itchy hands syndrome":D!.... so our first stop was to the Marina Sands Casino.  Since this is my first visit to the casino, I joined my friend at the Roulette table ....the one with a  minimum bet S$5.00 of course.  Lady Luck was with us that day.

After S$50 bet, I won S$80! So with the S$30 win, I decided to quit and went out to take some photos as well as paid a visit to the Skypark.  

Entrance to the Skypark.... the entry fee is S$23.00. However this does not include the Infinity Pool - which was only opened for hotel guests only. I was disappointed as I was looking forward to see this.

Up and away to the Level 56 - Sands Skypark-

The observation deck with its panaroma view - the Gardens by the Bay on the right  and the "Durian" on the left - which is  the Esplanade building along the waterfront which is the venue for performing arts. 

On the opposite side is the Singapore Flyer 

The ArtScience Museum which is beside the Marina Sands 

View of the river.. actually it is not hazy at all.. infact it was  so hot that I just snapped without focus!

 So just walked round the observation deck only ... and then descended down.

 Finally, this is the best photo that I can get from my handphone......

I must  say that most of these ladies were very punctual... on the dot, everyone converged in front of the casino and we were taken for a breath of fresh air next!  

The Flower Dome -spanning 101 hectares with over 380 thousand plants! It is the world's largest columnless greenhouse- the conservatories glass sits on a steel grid shaped like an eggshell.

Up close with the knight in the shining armour on his "wooden" steed!

There are changing floral displays year round and the present theme is "War of the Roses" ie  the feudal war in the 15th century between the Royal Houses of Lancaster and York and featuring over 60 varieties of roses!

 This is a great place for photography buffs!

various sculptures among the plants 

a very very old tree-

"not so old aunty"

 

My friend sitting among the roses..

By the way do you know that there is no black rose  .... they are actually very dark red roses!

From here we strolled over to the Cloud Forest...

I felt instantly refreshed.... looking at this and getting sprayed with the falling mist!
This indoor waterfall is 35 metre tall!

It is covered with lush plants from various nations.

a miniature train station display.

fancy driving this "green" car?

From the ground floor, we took the lift up to level 6 and started our descend via the walkways..which encircle the mountain and the waterfall... 

The cloud walk started from this mystical lake....

and we stepped out onto the aerial walkway ..

sticking as close to the mountain as possible......

You are so high above.....

the mist provide a ethereal and cooling walk and  imagine yourself  walking on the clouds.... unless you are scare of heights..... hahaha!

We completed the cloud walk and went down the escalator to the next level -- the tree top walk. Here you can see and admire  the vertical wall of the plants. 

Soon we reached the ground floor again 

a miniature model of the whole Gardens

enter.. if you dare.....

into the lions lair!

The Supertrees with the OCBC skywalk.  We were not able to see the lighting of these as it was time to leave for our dinner and to check into our hotel.
Hence ended a wonderful and happy day!

PRECIOUS DROP OF WATER

3/3/2014.
BLUE, BLUE  MONDAY

There is no food posting ..... until water supply resume..

My housing area has been hit with the water rationing....without notice..... since last Tuesday!

It is so depressing every morning to turn on the tap and seeing  it splutter and then cough out muddy water for 1, 2, 3 seconds! And then nothing...

After the 3rd day, the water tank also dried up.

We have to resort to taking our baths at my sister's house.. thank God that her house is not affected... yet!.

Suddenly on the 4th day .. water was trickling from the garden hose! How precious was that!

Managed to fill up 3 pails and then nothing... again.

I had discover the schedule of this so-called rationing now..

Got up early during the weekend... how early ?.... 3 am. and water is flowing albeit in small volume.

It stopped exactly at 5 am! There is no choice but to take the doggies for their walk and along the way, discovered that I am not the only one up at that hour.... a few houses were already up and doing their washing! No wonder the low water pressure causing the water to cease in our garden... which is just a road away from this garden!

This morning, my next door neighbour was also up and doing her washing too.! Water stopped around 6 am this morning.... hmmm do I see an improvement in the situation?.

I am truly amazed at myself that within the 2-3 hours, I can so much:-

a.  managed to fill up all available vessels -
b.  making trips up and down the stairs at least 5-6 times... my poor knees!
c.  mop the floor!
d.  least but not last, had the chance to bath my 3 doggies!... They have been feeling so down and tired... because of the fleas attack as well as the hot weather!

Thank You Syabas for the good exercise!
 
PS: Its with a heavy heart that I turn on the tap last evening .... and fearfulness turn to HAPPINESS ....

WATER HAS BEEN RESUME... thank God!

So treasure water and learn ways to save water. Man can survive without food for 3 days but 3 days without water... sure die lor!