The Cube

I have been back in Sydney for at two months, so this was overdue for at least 60 days.

The old Pudu jail (or Pudu Prison), or what is left, the wall had been broken down despite it could be very much considered a heritage despite one could argue for the wrong reason.



Under the monorail track, near Hang Tuah station.



The twin towers which most try to have a piece of the view from their home, so one could view those fireworks without leaving the comfort of home.



And this... long overdue, Happy 2012 :)




Side note: Will have to try the ramen again another time. Sux

BT means Bilis Telur (anchovies egg)


So simple, yet so delicious... this little parcel here beats a lot of those so-called gourmet nasi lemak.

I'm craving for a couple of these no nonsense cheap nasi lemak.


Side note: Brighton Beach

~ looking out to the sea, Pantai Cenang

Langkawi seems to be more famous than Alor Setar despite Alor Setar being the state capital. In fact, some of my colleagues here actually had their honeymoon in Langkawi! Grin. I grew up in Alor Setar and Langkawi is just a 1 hour ferry ride away... I have only been to Langkawi twice. In fact the first time was after I have left Kedah. Funny how things turn out huh.


~ On the way to the ferry, Kuala Kedah

A famous folklore associated with Langkawi was on Mahsuri. Mahsuri was a beautiful young woman lived in Langkawi long time ago. She was accused of adultery by the village chief's wife who was jealous of her beauty. Mahsuri pleaded for her innocence but nobody believed her. She was executed by stabbing. It was said that when she was stabbed, white blood flowed from her wound signifying her innocence. Before she passed on, she cursed Langkawi to have seven generations of bad luck. Apparently Langkawi did suffer for seven generations of misfortune but flourished thereafter. Now Mahsuri's Tomb (Makam Mahsuri) is one of the attraction in Langkawi.

Anyway, this trip was a little different. We did not stay by the beach, instead overlooking the golden green paddy fields.


~ View from Sunset Valley, Langkawi

All credit to my friend, she was the one scouting out possible accommations, and finally made booking for this one - Sunset Valley.

Beautiful place but I find the service a little lacking. Also although I appreciate that they are trying to maintain and keeping the place at its best, but I can't help feeling a lot of rules or restriction were being set. Or maybe it was just the way it was presented to us.


~ Still around Sunset Valley

In our group, there were 7 adults and 2 kids - 1 and 1/2 years old and 5 months old. 5 adults and 1 kiddo stayed for 2 nights while the other for an extra night. Booking were made for the 2 room Forest House and the other on Farmer's House. It was a pretty comfortable and unique stay, though I stood out like a sore thumb, being the odd number. They have set up an extra bed in one of the rooms in Forest House but it was so crowded and I was like an extra limb hanging out. Um.. something like that.

We didn't do a lot this trip, the beach, some good dinners and lazing around :P
Though the Langkawi Sky Bridge did interest me...


~ just outside of Sunset Valley

Don't think people associate rubber trees with Langkawi but hey, it's still in Kedah. It's kind of nostalgic as I remember stretches and stretches of rubber plantations (not forgetting the smell of it) when travelling on the road from Alor Setar towards south, via the old road (not highway). The North South Highway gives view of flat plains of paddy fields. Also, postage for local mails was 20 cents and the most frequently seen stamps for 20 cents was rubber tree. :)


Side note: My first 20 minutes run today... didn't think I would survive...LOL

This is not a popular destination if you are a tourist travelling to Malaysia. I suspect even if one make time for Penang, the much popular neighbour, they might just forgo this rice bowl state. In fact, I think most of the people who gets here are to get to Kuala Kedah for the ferry to Langkawi. But, this is the place where I spent all my school years, till I left for uni.. where Thursday nights were my favourite night because weekends in Kedah are Friday and Saturday. Sunday is a working day.

Ok... a little about Alor Setar. Between 2004 and 2008, it was known as Alor Star when granted status as "city" (bandar), I can't exactly remember the reason though, in fact I didn't quite remember the year (I got that from Wiki page) though yes, I remember having to change how I spelt Alor Setar. Strange thing.

Alor Setar is the state capital of Kedah, a northern state in West Malaysia, just south of Perlis. Kedah is also called the Rice Bowl of Malaysia because of paddy agriculture and rice production. Also of interest (I suppose) that the first and 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia was born in Kedah :)

The picture above - that is Masjid Zahir (Zahir Mosque), located in the heart of Alor Setar, along the street, stood the Balai Seni Negeri (State Art Gallery), Balai Nobat (Hall of Drums), Balai Besar (Grand Audience Hall) and Muzium Di Raja (Royal Kedah Museum). It was a good walk, looking at those buildings. The added bonus was I used to stay a stone throw's away :P

That, unfortunately is the only picture I have on Masjid Zahir from the last trip, from a moving car. I probably won't be able to tempt anybody to visit Alor Setar but hey, I'm bias :P

The building on the left - That's Balai Nobat (Hall of Drums).

That's Telekom Tower, a baby compared to the Petronas Twin Tower :P

A walk straight on leads to the Balai Seni Negeri (State Art Gallery) and the other buildings.

And a trip home isn't complete without a good bowl of asam laksa. Of course I ate much more food in Alor Setar, just didn't take any picture cos I was busy stuffing myself silly :P
Food in Alor Setar are great! All of us (my friends and I) gained a few kg from just the 2 days home. :P


Side note: Time for dinner!

There was a Elephant Parade in Singapore when I was there end of last year. There were heaps and heaps of them. Of course, I have not seen all of them, just a handful. Some were really cute though :)

I have every intention to visit the Hendersons Wave Bridge when I was in Singapore. However the weather wasn't too kind for outdoor activities, and we had to can it. As compensation, there was an evening without rain, and I get to see Marina Bay Sands ^_^

I didn't enter the casino though.. and that was the first time I learned that Singaporean citizens and permanent residents have to pay to enter the casino. Hmm..









Side note: online shopping is hazardous...

The 2 weeks to Singapore and back home were mostly on food. I had a couple of lists - errands to run, things to buy and one on food to eat. The food to eat list consists of food that I craved for over the time, I can't find them in Sydney or those that available but just does not taste the same. Unfortunately with my very amateur-ish skills, I just couldn't get the taste right.

Little P and Moo Moo Gal were most hospitable, housed me, planned my itinerary, brought me around the city and to eat in their midst of moving. Especially, silly crazy me strolled in Singapore with S$50 to spend for 2 full days.

The Supper
You read that right. The flight I took was a little delayed and by the time I picked up my luggage and passed Immigration, it was closed to 1am. Little P and Moo Moo Gal was already frolicking in the airport waiting for me. It appeared that they sat at one of those benches looking over the gates, just like cinemas seating facing the screen waiting for me and I strolled out from another gate.

As all of us were hungry, yes at 1am and I had both the meals offered on flight, we nicely walked in to TCC (The Coffee Connoisseur) for supper.


Deluxe Snack Platter


Hearty Breakfast with Eggs & Shrooms

We also ordered a Shrooms Bite, of mushroom and cheese which surprisingly not found in my photos collection. Must've jumped at the food and forgot to take a pic... though I thought I did grab a picture. Shrug. On top of the 3, we also placed an order for a pasta meal but it took way too long and we decided to cancel the meal as sleepiness crept in on us all. According to the waitress, they ran out of pasta sauce and need to make it from scratch, hence the wait. Shrug. The food was ok but the wait was a little too long.

Changi Airport T3 Arrival Hall
65 Airport Boulevard #01-22 Terminal 3 Arrival Hall
Phone : 6214 0680 Fax : 6214 0386
Business Hours: Daily, PH & PH Eve - 24 Hours

The Breakfast/Brunch
Breakfast (or maybe brunch due to the time we woke up) at Day 1 (yup, a couple of hours of sleep after supper) was at Toa Payoh Food Court.


Singapore Hokkien Mee served with sambal.

In Alor Setar, we sometimes referred Har Mee as Hokkien Mee, and KL, the black stir fry noodles are also called Hokkien Mee. So, this is a totally different variant. In fact, I reminded me of Lam Mee of some sort because of the starchy feel to the gravy.


Oh Chien, the salty version. Fried oyster with egg, also served with sambal. See how Singaporeans and Malaysians are generous with their condiments :P


The famous Soon Heng Rojak

Little P was given the task to queue up at the rojak stall while Moo Moo Gal went round to get the rest of the food. I had the easiest of task, sitting at the table to guard the space :P


Little P's breakfast - slow cooked soup or literally translated as old fire cooked soup. It's like treasures inside a small bowl.


My dose of coffee and Moo Moo Gal's Teh C Peng

Toa Payoh Food Court
Basement 1 Food Court
HDB Hub Toa Payoh Central

Day 2 breakkie was with a friend, a simple cappuccino and bun, nothing special and no picture to show.

Day 3 breakkie was nasi lemak in airport. How I miss having nasi lemak for breakkie! :P



The Lunch
Day 2 lunch was a simple fare. I tried to convince myself that I need the detox after stuffing myself silly the first day I touched down... also that my friend is a vegetarian.


Cobb Salad from Salad Stop, Novena Square

I was introduced to Cobb Salad when I was in SF and this is one salad that I really like. The Cobb Salad from Salad Stop was a little different though, the obvious different was the egg was not served as hard boiled egg. I prefer the one I had in USA though.

Salad Stop
238 Thomson Road, #02-24, Novena Square, Singapore 307683

The Snacks

Ole Ole fries from Best Fries Forever - Salsa get creamed, Spanish style

Best Fries Forever
Raffles City
#B1-55 Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road
Nearest MRT: EW13 City Hall

The one we went was in Raffles City, picking up the fries and to meet up with Little P who was queueing for Buffet Town. I was told reservation was difficult to get too, after all it was Christmas Eve.

Sinful toast with thick coat of kaya + butter from Toast Box. Yumm. I did try to replicate this at Sydney but I think it will taste as good if you spread it with very thick layer :P
Hence, sinful :P



313@Somerset B2
313 Orchard Road, #B2-31/32/33
313@Somerset
S(238895)
Tel 6634 2863
(At least, I think it is this one that we went...)

The Dinner
Dinner at day 1 was at Buffet Town - it was a Christmas Eve dinner. I was ashamed that I didn't prepare enough gifts for all who present. Umm... was even contemplating of hiding in the washroom when it happened..umm




Christmas was around the corner, so we had roast turkey! Yumm..




Prawns, satay, chilli crab with deep fried mantou, sushi, sashimi, Peking duck, fishes, veges, selection of ice cream (the ones pictured was black sesame and ... can't remember), oysters and ginger bread house (we didn't have this) but we had much much more than what was photographed.

Buffet Town
252 North Bridge Road, #B1-44E Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore
Tel: +65 6837 3793

Dinner for day 2 was kolok mee! I so miss kolok mee, but unfortunately it is not the easiest thing to find even in Malaysia, outside of Sarawak. It was served together with a small bowl of soup.
This was found actually in the very upmarket Marina Sands Bay - a stall call Jiaxiang. They literally make you walked all the way across the mall just to get to the food court, which I suspect is the cheapest eatery in the whole shopping mall. :P

It will at least curb the cravings for kolok mee for a while, I suppose. By the way, mind you, it was difficult to get a table, we were there at dinner time. Not sure if it would be much empty outside peak hours.




Side note: Should I travel again for this CNY?

That was my 4th Christmas after moving to Sydney. Christmas in Sydney gave me the feeling of CNY, family gathering and the gifts exchange were a little similar to angpow. Of course, there were instances where people do not exchange gifts and note the word exchange, rather than angpow where you received from people older than you.

Anyway, the previous 3 years, I was in Sydney. I bit the bullet this round and booked a return ticket home. Not specifically for Christmas, but for a dear friend's wedding. So I thought I'll travel to Singapore to visit some friends on the way home, rather than making a separate trip to Singapore. Come to think of it, as the years go, more friends have moved across the causeway and earn the Singapore dollar.

I remembered Orchard Road in Singapore has having some really nice Christmas decoration, there were one year where they had M&M as the theme. Shopping complexes had their own decorations and were very much elaborate, compared to Christmas trees in Sydney

I flew home with Singapore Airlines, after work on 23rd December which coincidentally was on a Friday last year. Even the flight was decorated with mistletoe. But no, the dessert was not Christmas pudding or panettone. Grin.



Christmas theme this year in Changi Terminal 3 was *drum roll* - Angry Bird. Very uptodate, isn't it? Little P and Moo Moo Gal already had their rounds of taking pics and posing with the decos while waiting for my flight to touch down.





Here are pictures on the Christmas decoration taken in Orchard Road, and I must add, on a rainy night of Christmas Eve. Despite the thought of bringing along an umbrella did flashed through my brain, but not only I did not check the weather forecast, I did not bring an umbrella along :P I was tagging along Moo Moo Gal's froggy umbrella (it's froggy or was it rabbit?)


~ Hehe.. this obviously is taken during daytime, however still a drizzly day, while waiting for another friend and her little girl. I believe was outside Paragon Shopping Centre


~ Wonder if the horsey can support the weight of a little girl... *ponder*


~ Shiny tree from Tiffany & Co


~ very shiny tree




~ I'm not very familiar with images from the Bible, the only one I think I may get it right is the one on bottom right - Shepherd and Sheep


~ I like these little snow globe looking thingy the most, beautiful aren't they?


Side note: A very merry Christmas, albeit very much late greetings :P