Almost Self-trip to Singapore

Since the time I was jobless and been thinking a lot of travel alone. I always wanted to travel in different countries other than in Malaysia. Thought of going to Japan to visit Vikram and his wife in mid of April/May in 2007 but that plan has crashed due to my retrenchment.

So changed the plan and decided to go Singapore, the nearest and familiar with. But this time I wanted to explore alone in Singapore. The last time I went was with my relatives or friends.

I’ve been telling most of my friends about me going to Singapore for Christmas holidays. By this, I may go down to Singapore with friends who want to go too. I went down to South with a guy friend, Jason by bus. He bought the tickets for one-way to Singapore. He decided to stay there for few days with his girlfriend who working in Singapore.

So I got to buy the back KL ticket by myself. Thought of travel back KL by bus, but instead buy train ticket since I haven’t experience. I got to buy return ticket with train in order to get the cheapest price. I got to buy go Singapore on 20th December with a economic seat costs RM21 then back to KL on 24th December last night train with bed cost RM43. Flood was happened on 20th December and KTM is responsible to refund the ticket that travel on the date has happened. I’m lucky, if not I got to reimburse my RM21 on the air. Heeheee. So, bus to Singapore costs RM45, back to KL by train RM43. Not bad at all. Thanks Jason who bought the bus tickets.

We took the last bus at night in Puduraya. We departed at midnight, reached in Tuas Checkpoint, Singapore at 4.30am on 23rd December. The bus stopped at bus station somewhere nearby at Lavender Street at around 5.15am. Once we dropped the place, Jason and I were travel separately. He took a taxi go to look for his gf and I started to walk alone in the early morning to look for a place to stay.

Yah, I know. It was late to do the hotel booking during the Christmas season. So I thought that I could find one once I reach in Singapore. I do have cousins who stay in Singapore, it just that I doesn't want to trouble them with my arrival. Therefore I want to have some exploration. They were staying out of the town which kinda of unconvenience for me. I decided to have my own place to stay.

I was walking alone with backpack and a big tote bag while reading the map. I’d written list of affordable places to stay in a notepad. I walked for 1 ½ hours to find a place to stay. I found Sleepy Sam's Place at Bussorah Street but it only opens at 8am so I look for another place. I went to Bugis Street for Bugis Backpacker Hostel but it closed for holidays. Damn. Then I went to Bugis MRT to buy the EZ Link Card for S$15 (something like Touch ‘n’ Go card in KL). I was kinda tired after walking awhile with backpack. I was totally lost my way to look for more but luckly I had prepared with the listing of the places I wanted to stay with their contact number. I called each of them at the phone booth in MRT station. Finally I got a place to stay! Phew~

Finally got to Penang Hotel at Jalan Besar for a dorm (dormitory) bed costs S$15 each night with an extra S$5 for early bird check-in. I check-in at 7.30am. The dorm was filled with 4 double-deck bed that can occupy 8 people and a share bathroom. I took the lower bed. I was pretty exhausted and I took a nap at about 8am.

So far to this journey, it likes aimless or not well prepared. I do not know what to do instead I took the nap and informing most of friends who stay in Singapore of my arrival. I do not know what to plan, where to go. I didn’t take my breakfast although I’d passed some of the shops to stop by. I was thinking that I need to find a place to stay at first. Most everything is unprepared and randomly happens.

I smsed Darcy, my ex-colleague who is now working in Singapore for lunch which about to meet his girlfriend, May at Lavender MRT at noon. We went to Orchard Road to have lunch. We couldn’t decide what to eat but ended up eating Hainanese Chicken Rice costs S$8.90 and Homemade Barley Ice S$2.80. Thanks to Darcy for the lunch. After that, we walked around to shop as I wanted to buy clogs and sneakers. From Orchard Road, we went to Bugis Village, Sim Lim Square to look for gadget. I want to have a MP3/MP4 player but my budget was tight. Darcy said buying some of the electric stuff in Singapore somewhat is cheaper than Malaysia after the conversion. Then we stopped to have a coffee break nearby and we chatted and rest. From at least 1pm, we walked and shopped until almost 7pm. I couldn’t walk anymore as well for Darcy and May as we all were tired. I went back to dormitory to take bath and slept at about 10pm.







I think this post going to be damn long, so I decided not to write more but let the pictures speak itself.














Click this picture below for larger view on 360 degree:



















On my departure back to KL, my MSN friend who live in Singapore came to see me. It was great to meet someone new face.


Check in at Malaysia Immigration in the Railway Station at about 10.15pm. Got into the train while waiting it move at 12 midnight.



My bed was nearly the end of the coach of the train. A lot of unoccupied beds or seats.



At 1am, it stopped at Woodlands Train Checkpoint. It started the journey at 1.15am.


In the train, I was asleep though it bumpy but it was a good sleep. I reached to KL Central at the next day on Christmas at 10.20am.


Overall, I was brave enough to travel although I'd lost my way and not well prepared. I'm looking forward to have another trip, but not sure when.

Welcome 2007!!!

Yah, time flies very quickly. It's been half a month that I didn't update my blog. Busy? Kind of... since I were jobless, it was hard for me to unload those photos that taken. My home CPU's USB port can't be used cos once I plug in, my whole PC will sudden blackout with no reason. I got to depend on office's PC.

These last few days (like a month ago), many things happened in my life. This post is gonna be damn long... with loads of photos. Heeheee

Let's start with these; then I will post my Self Singapore Trip later.
16 December 2006
I went to pasar malam with Yvonne, her bf and Irene. We had pan-mee for our dinner. It was delicious and thanks to Yvonne’s bf for the treats. We walked from the beginning of the road till the end. I bought a wide width black belt, some cakes for grandma and tidbits, cheap necklaces. After we had the night, we went back home. Out of the spontaneous, Irene got an invite to watch a midnight movie from her friends. That time we were reached at my house, so I got to help them to buy online tickets. We watched Eragon. We got to take some photos while wasting the time passed.



The Eragon movie was ok. The story about the dragon and the rider who save part of the society, whatever…pretty lame the scripts. Doesn’t sound classic enough compared with Lord of The Rings. Well, Eragon movie going to have next incoming movie if they do have the budget. :)


17 December 2006
Sunday morning I were accompanied mum to go temple. Then get to meet up Irene and John at KL Central. We had lunch and got to hang out at around Bukit Bintang area. Took a lot of pictures. Let the pictures speak for itself.






It was great to meet John again since the long time ago.


19 December 2006
I got a job that I wanted to work for. I've been working in a new company for a few days now. Although I didn’t expect bad thing happen to me (if you were reading my past posting on my retrenchment), but luckily got a job. I’ve been jobless for few days. I couldn’t show around of my current workplace. I got to make myself comfortable enough first. What I like about the company is the colours of the certain walls. Here are some of the photos at my workplace:



20 December 2006
I got to meet up with an old friend, Vikram who got married and have a good life with his wife in Japan. He was my best friend’s friend who I got to know that he was staying nearby my neighborhoods. It was past almost 3 years we didn’t get to keep in touch as it was totally lost connection. But now, I am happy to meet them again. We hanged out at the mamak as they were missed the mamak lifestyle.

Personality Idol; Pageant Show

Note: Irene's friend is called LB, not LV. :)

I was excited to have a job at PJ which I wished to work for. I got it! Hopefully I will show my ethic of working there that they will confirm my employment.

I started my first day at work was on Wednesday. It was a nice place to work with although at the beginning there nothing much for me to work on. The design team was nice. There no any pictures taken but there was a spotted place where its good to take good picture with strong orange color wall. I would take some with my colleagues one day.

After first day at work, I got invited from Irene to attend the Rush Personality Idol to support her friend, LV. It was some sort like pageants cum fashion show. We reached at Rush Bar & Club as VIP which no cover charge but got to buy our own drinks.


We waited until the show started at nearly midnight. I was prepared to take some photos of the show but ended up battery was out in the middle of the show. Wasted. Here are the few of the photos;



Too bad LV didn’t win anything but the consolation prize. But I could see he was not disappointed and he’d enjoyed through the whole show.

Was A Temporarily Designer

I am glad to work and experience or trained for working in a high-end society lifestyle publishing company at KL Central. I had worked for them for only 4 days. It was great to get involved in a different line of publishing. Therefore it was good to back to Mac platform.

My boss; Creative Director was kind enough for letting me to join their company as temporarily and he’d even offer me the job. I was hesitated because I was waiting for my offer letter from other company. Other staff in Production/Design department were nice though there nothing much to share.

On Tuesday was my last day when I got the offer lettering which effectively the next day on work. It was sad though but they’re still happy for me to have a job that I wanted. I took the chance to take a photo with them to put it here. Here are they:


I would like to thanks you all for giving me the chance and offer!

After I left the office, I went to meet up with my ex-colleagues. Supposingly to meet Yling with Melanie for sorting out the stuff we bought from Yling's friend. We met at Wong Kok Restaurant at PJ for dinner. Then we called up the others to join us and ended up with this big gathering.


We talked about our job hunting; where do we work; how is the life and so on. It was a great gathering after we were departed from the company. Get to know what we were doing or what job we've been hunting.

Indeed we had a great time with meals. :)

Wedding dinner at Klang

I went with Riza to Jeffery’s brother wedding dinner on Monday, 11th December 2006 which was a public holiday for Selangor state. I was working temporarily at KL Central, from after work I was rushing put on my make-up in the loo then meet up Riza at LRT station.

Jeffery invited me, Ken, Riza and Vinod but only I and Riza could attend. The wedding held at the Chinese Restaurant in Klang Executive Club. We were seated along with Jeffery’s best buddies on one table which was nearby the entrance. So 5 of us were sitting on 10-seats table.


When the foods were served, most of us couldn’t finish the dishes. Overall they served 9 different dishes which not bad at all. The services were poorly.


I was quite bored during the dinner because there were no girls. I was sitting with the guys and most of them guys’ talk. But I got to thank to Riza for fetching me go and fro.


Anyway, Congratulations to Jason & his newly-wedded wife, Keleen.

Mall in Deco

Last Saturday I was at home facing in front of tv after woke up in the late afternoon. I was supposing to attend colleague’s brother church wedding at Klang but I do not have transport.

In the evening, my ex-collegemate called me up for a movie along with his friend. We went to Mid Valley to see a random movie. Once we reached there, the queue wasn’t long but we couldn’t decide what to watch. End up having tea time and chit-chat at a restaurant. We chatted about an hour then we walked around the mall. The mall was decorated with a theme of ‘Sweet Christmas’. I didn’t take many photos.


Hmm…maybe next time I visit the mall, I will take some shoots of the deco.
“Anyway, nice meeting you, Jay. (If I spell your name correctly)” ;P

Warmth

Photo of the day; taken last Friday. It was raining that night. My cat, Cum-Mon followed me to my room while I was surfing net. At first he was lying on the floor on the rug. Cuddled himself and sleep. A few minutes he got up and meowed at me. I was wondering what he wants. He stared at my lap and I know he wants to sit ontop. I pat on my lap and he climbed on my lap and sleep. I was then busy typing and mouse-over on the screen while he comfortably sleep on my lap.

Imagine 6kg fat cat sleeping on my lap. My legs were numb after about 10minutes. :)

Last day at work for lunch

Last day at work on 30th November 2006 was nothing particular but I went to have last day for lunch with my bunch of colleagues at Bangsar Village. We decided to have at Fish & Co Restaurant. That time not many people were having their lunch and we bunch of people, 7 of us went in. The waiter took our orders. Our orders were simple as most of us called set lunch each that cost RM19.90++. 6 set lunch and one ala carte meal. The set lunch included a soup of the day, main course, a drink and a dessert.


After we had ordered, we waited for our drinks and soup for almost half an hour. The service there was slow. We were looking around the place wondering why they took it so long to serve the drinks. There were not many customers to be served. Therefore what we had ordered was the set lunch which the drinks and soups that had been done earlier.

Even though when we got our drinks and soups, there were incomplete. We waited for few minutes and in the end, they missed out one soup to be served. They even served the soup not warm/hot. Terrible. We were very unsatisfied and hungry.

Overall, the foods were not hot as we expected. The service was suck. Incomplete orders. (Those below picture were taken by my handphone, Motorola E1070.)