Singapore Day 1
After working hard for most of the year, my long overdue overseas trip is finally here, and I only got as far as Singapore. As such, a shopping spree is in order.
The convenience of the modern 21st century dictates that I do not have to, nor want to spend time queuing up for tickets. Aeroline bus services seems convenient enough for that purpose and that’s what I got. Went online, got the tickets, printed out the confirmation slip and I’m ready to go.
Day 1 started bright and early at 5am when someone yanked me off my bed screaming in my face something about being late and someone else retorting that he’s on leave and on a trip before jumping up in shock and rushing off to wash up.
Supposed to go there with some friends and meet up other buddies over the causeway but due to some last minute changes, I ended up going there with just my friend.
My Friend –>
There is something about leaving for trips in the morning is it always feel carefree and everything seem more perfect, the meals taste better and everyone seems nicer. Same here.
We reached the Aeroline counter at Sunway Pyramid about 9-ish. Ticket collection is a breeze, handing over the confirmation slip that I printed over the web and we’re good to go.. 30 minutes later.
^ We’re going first class baby!!
We’re the first to arrive so there’s no hassle in getting our tickets. On further observation the seats are spaced wide apart = kinda spacious = not much people = no mad rush for tickets (as they’re reserved when we purchase the tickets).
There’s a first class lounge but there’s no toilet! Complain!!! If you really need to go you can walk all the way into the shopping complex and pray that the doors are open for you. For those that have nothing to pee, a cup of coffee awaits you. Or make your own.
Our double decker bus started right on the dot and for snacks we got Subway!
^ The sandwich sucks but it’s through no fault of subway. Budget is budget, even for Subway.
To make the trips as much alike as flying AirAsia (AA) or FireFly (FF), we got a lounge downstairs, pirated movies on streaming, window seats for everyone and even a stewardess on call! Yea!
To quote their hospitality guide:
EXPERIENCE THE COMFORT:
All the luxuries of business class air travel on land now. Ergonomic low reclining seats, light meals, latest movies shown, bottomless hot beverages, magazines, daily newspaper and onboard stewardess making your journey a truly comfortable one!
I’m a convert! No pictures though because I was busy looking at this red dot.
^ Taken after 2.5 hours on the road.
Another 2.5 hours later we arrived at the end of Malaysian hospitality, bye bye stinky toilets!
Never been to Singapore via the second causeway though it’s nothing major or different about it. There’s no jam then other than a slow moving truck line but seeing it’s border control and things are moving alone it’s fine by me.
Past the borders we were greeted by a rude shock, a truck driver… texting on the road, in army fatigues, in an army truck. I guess laws don’t apply when there’s no one looking but other citizen from another country.
We spent our first 30 minutes on the road getting from the causeway to HarbourFront Centre. It’s basically a one stop centre for cable car to Sentosa island, the place where Star Cruise line made it’s stop, where bus and taxis converse and also Singapore’s latest (by my standard) megamall Vivo City.
When a place had the word “city” proudly affixed to it you know you are getting lost. In comparison it’s like MidValley with KLCC park on the top floor overlooking beautiful loading docks and cranes.
^ I kid you not. Nicest outdoor view I can find.
<–Got this on candid.
Pretty much most the crowds there are doing similar with a slight exception, other than camwhoring, we see primary students pouring over boxes of hamsters, rabbits and other yummy animals; secondary students playing Big2 on the sidewalk; college grads camwhoring and babes splashing water in the dipping pool.
^ Hot dude and sexy babe in this picture. Clothing’s are superimposed.
Since HarbourFront is a central terminal, we saw lots of other ferry terminals, bus counters, taxi stands, all interesting stuff except this.
In a public showcase that their IT systems are top notch, they don’t mind you looking at their windows update screen while you wonder what’s the number shown underneath the prompt. But since it’s not a BSOD I can’t post it up anymore than here.
Saying we shopped till we dropped is an understatement. We had ALL our backpacks on while we went about Vivo City. For perspective, try having a 10kg weight on your back the size of a mini fridge and then do your shopping.
For dinner we went to this fine diner called Tong Le Xin Di. Roughly translated it means “Place of common joy??”.
The place is kinda posh, and everything is in white. The utensils are in white. The table, chairs, walls, ceilings and even the waitresses are in white.
Fans of bounce flash will like it here. Fans of laser pointers run the risk of shooting themselves in the eye due to the equal amount of mirror and glass.
Did I mention the waitresses are cute? Yes they are!
I realized my biggest blunder after dinner, that I forgot to activate my roaming before crossing the border (no wonder I couldn’t get a signal). The information counter couldn’t help much, can’t even point me to the nearest public phone. Seems like 21st century folks have un-invented the public payphone.
The payphones in Singapore couldn’t dial IDD, but fortunately I managed to get a sms out from a borrowed phone back to HQ so my ’secretary’ knows how to activate roaming for me. Phew, problem solved.
My first visit in 2 years is as good as not been here at all as so many has changed. There’s more shopping districts and attractions not including Sentosa Island which is kinda max out on what they can develop.
I managed to meet up with a few friends working in Singapore and they stay all over the place. Kinda bad for disturbing them in the middle of the night but really really misses the hang-outs and chit-chats.
^ Friends since ages past, now working in Singapore.
<–Er.. the usual girly group pic gua.
We had a couple of drinks outside but got shooed at Starbucks for overstaying at 1am! If this is Bintang Walk the fun is just about to start, but over here it’s time for bed. DUH!
With nothing else to do, we also balik tidur lor.
