Please take note that I started writing this yesterday 26th November and I can only get it posted today. So all days and dates are in reference to November 26th. Sorry! Our youngest is working in Singapore and her 21st birthday is tomorrow. She was not able to come home to celebrate it with us because of her work commitment so yesterday we went to be with her and celebrated her 21st birthday in Singapore. Our trip was partially paid for by one of the casino and theme park operator in Singapore. They contracted a travel company in Malacca to ferry people to their casino and theme park daily for free on week days and a very minimal amount on weekends. This is not made know publicly but just spread by word of mouth and Becky managed to catch it. Yesterday I was up at 5:00am, still very sleepy together with Becky and my eldest daughter we made our way to the pickup point to wait for the bus. We were early and luckily it was not raining. About 6:00am ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) We were at the second pick up point and after a short while the bus arrived. I was surprised that the bus was already almost full when we got in and it made another stop to pick up the last few passengers which filled up the last few seats. I was back in dreamland soon after that and was awakened when the bus stopped. Another pickup? Peering out the window I noticed that there was another bus just beside us, hmm "where are we? Already 7:30am and looks like we had stopped somewhere in the middle of nowhere!" I thought to myself. Bus "Stop" ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Reluctantly I got up and followed the crowd with Becky and my daughter following behind. Once out of the bus I realized that we were at a rest place like a truck stop in the United States, the different is that only tour buses stop here and the tour guides and bus drivers get to eat free. Tourist standard food court! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) We did not eat here because we already had breakfast before we left our home and the food was not appetizing ... tourist grade I would say!!! We just wandered around a little to stretch our legs. Soon we were on our journey again with lots of chattering after the passengers had recharged themselves from a hearty breakfast I guess. About two hours later we arrived at the Malaysian side of the border and after having our passport checked we proceed on to Singapore. Border Crossing ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Singapore's Immigration and Custom complex. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) In Singapore ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) You know you are in Singapore when the signs are in understandable English. Not having been to Singapore for more than 10 years, it felt pleasant to be in Singapore again. After having done the formalities we were on our way to our destination which took us about 20~30 minutes. Upon arrival we have to go through a head count before we were being allowed to go where we want and do what we want. Most of them made a beeline to the casino and we met up with the birthday girl. Money eating place! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Concourse outside the casino ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Had a quick discussion, decided where we wanted to go and we were off to the city using the Mass Rapid Transport. Leaving Sentosa Island ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) A Cruise Ship ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Orchard Road ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) As usual Orchard Road it is, I guess almost all if not all tourist to Singapore will definitely visit Orchard Road. Crowded. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) As usual there were people everywhere. Lunch time ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Garlic Toast ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Onion Soup ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Beef Carpaccio ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Yummie!!! My very first time and loving it!!! Some kind of Pork Burger ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Funghi Risotto ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Some kind ofCheese Ravioli ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Birthday Girl ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The desert is on the house for the birthday girl only! Christmas sales? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Christmas Shoppers??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Most Photographed Decoration ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I think this is the most photographed decoration because everytime I passed it there were some people posing and having their photos taken. Ice cream man ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Haven't seen this in ages!!! Santa here too??? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) More Christmas decoration ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) It was Christmasy everywhere in Orchard road because it was already decorated for Christmas and I wished that it would snow instead of rain!!! Soon it was time to head back to Sentosa Island where the casino and theme park is to catch our ride home. Even though the time was short, we were all glad to have had spent this precious time with our birthday girl. On the way home. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) We know we were back in Malaysia when the signboards cannot be understood!!!
Your daughter must have been thrilled to have you with her on her special day. What a lovely young woman she is. :-D My husband has always wanted to visit Singapore so I'll show him all you pictures. I really shouldn't have read your post though before having breakfast as my tummy is rumbling looking at all that lovely food!!
This is a nice story. Lots of foto's to record your fun. I enjoyed looking at the pics and reading about your experiences very much, KK. Thanks for this great posting.
You brought back some memories there KK of my visit there also. I visited Orchard Road but not Sentosa. To be honest I was more interested in trying the local food and comparing it to Malaysia's Belated birthday wishes to your daughter and say hello to Rebecca!
I was in Singapore in 1971 on board the USS America. Sure has changed a lot. But I do remember Orchard Road. But it still looks different fromwhen I was there.
What a nice day, KK. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. "Happy Birthday" to your daughter by the way.
Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter!! Great photos too, glad you all got spend the day with her.
Happy birthday to your lovely daughter! Thanks for taking us along with you on your trip, all the food looks yummy and I'm glad your family had a good time together.
modern infrastructure I always thought America had the most modern cities. I realized that wasn't so about twenty years ago. Tokyo, for one, is a perfect example. And, of course, Singapore.
Thank you all, I'm glad that all of you could come along! Yes Eileen she was really thrilled and so were we. She is very pleased with your comment and she said "Thank You". You and your husband should plan to have a holiday in Singapore and off course don't forget to come to Malacca too! Sojerd glad you enjoyed the trip, thanks! Frank the local food in Singapore is very much the same as those here. The only different I can say is the taste, some are nicer here and some are there. My daughter said thank you for your wishes and Rebecca said hello too. Capt 1971 was really a long time ago, and maybe this part of might look familiar to you. Preserved old buildings in Orchard ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Thanks Cherylad, it was indeed a wonderful day. Carolyn, thanks for enjoying this time with us and my daughter said "Thank you". Thank you Toni and we were really happy to be able to do it. Thank you Curato-gatos , you are most welcome. You are welcome Donna S, yes the food was really gooood!!! Yes Blissful Photons Singapore is indeed a very modern city and it is one of the safest in the world! It is very clean too!!!
Ah, Singapore! A wonderful place to be indeed! One of the top 3 destinations people from my country go to for their international holidays, (other 2 being Dubai and Hong Kong). However Singapore is in a class of it's own when it comes to neatness/orderliness. Last I was there was at the time when they were going to carry out a caning sentence on a US national (some teenager called Michael Fay) - On charges of theft and vandalism. I till this day don't know why but BBC and CNN turned that whole episode into an international headache. While the reaction of the people in Singapore at the time was only that of non-stop laughter! In any case, thanks indeed for sharing these pictures with us KK, (sure did bring back a lot of funny memories to me). And a very happy birthday to the birthday girl too!
