MommaHero
Genmaicha Tea Latte
Waffles Woo!
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Location
(near the old Lavender Food Square)
Map
Operating Hours
Prices
Genmaicha Tea Latte - S$6.00
Waffles Woo! (with vanilla ice cream) - S$11
[Subject to Service Charge]
Additional Information
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Tiramisu Hero Cafe - Amazing Waffles Woo! @ 121 Tyrwhitt Road [Jalan Besar]
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Yong Heng Food Trading for Keropoks and Other Local Foodstuff @ Batam Island [Indonesia]
Of the few times that i visited Batam, the tour guides would always bring us to a shop to spend our money on local food stuff like keropok; i didn't know it was known then but now i do, Yong Heng Food Trading!
We didn't plan it in our itinerary although my mom and i fondly remembered the passionfruit concentrate we got from the same place a few years back and decided to ask Mr Buldan if we could drop by for a short while after the kueh lapis factory.
Guess he couldn't say no since it was within walking distance from the kueh lapis factory and a drive took him less than a minute! Nevertheless, he appeared to know the staff pretty well.
Indonesia is famous for their prawn / fish keropok (crackers) and fans of the addictive, crispy snacks can consider buying the dried version and deep fry them yourself for that ultimate fresh and hot crispness!
Lazy bums like myself can consider the packs of readily fried product. We couldn't find the concentrate even though on second thought, the sugar high doesn't really bode well for our ageing bodies and if we really need to drink passionfruit juice, we can always consider having the real thing (p.s. the fruit stall next to Kay Lee sold a really delicious one)!
Dried sea horses - likely used for soup dishes! On a related note, i don't recall ever seeing a kicking and living seahorse in all my snorkelling trips!
Long time ago, my younger sister bought a bag of the above and we all assumed the items inside were fish skins and left them alone for quite a few weeks. Only upon seeing my sister indulging in them that we checked and got the answer they were thinly sliced fried bananas! Good stuff, by the way.
Some of the products you can find in the shop.
The variety was much wider than just keropoks and peanuts and compared the scale of the shop from the first time i visited, the area it covered now had easily doubled!
Promotions to entice us to buy more! Some of them have samples and you can try before you make any purchase. Thankfully i have reached that age where i am no longer very interested in snacks. Fattening lor!
Not mine! These were placed in there by my mom and sisters!
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Location
Blok C - No. 6-7, Komplek Ruko Golden Prawn, Jalan Golden Prawn, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Map
As above
Additional Information
For supermarket products like super duper cheap hair wax and ice cream, walk over to the supermarket next to Yong Heng Food Trading! You may also let your bored yet hyperactive young kids sit on the kiddie rides!
For the detailed itinerary of our one day trip to Batam with a chauffeured car, click here.
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Sindy Durians (阿玲山芭榴梿) - The One and Only Place for Mao Shan Wang @ Whampoa Drive [Balestier]
My experiential journey with durians had been relatively peaceful (and unexciting) until my dearest mum decided to indulge me when i was much older (like late 20s) and brought me to a stall known as Sindy along Balestier Road, famed for their top quality durians.
The man (me, that is), who was then easily pleased by durians that cost 3 for S$20, had a mao shan wang that was so unforgettable; the lower grades of the thorny fruits could no longer satisfy him!
Sindy has since moved quite a few times and although i tried mao shan wangs from other stalls, none can truly replicate what i had at Sindy. Thanks to the internet, i found the mobile number of the owner and finally got to its latest shop at Block 89, Whampoa Drive!
Outdoor seating for those who prefer to get down to business immediately; dig into the durians! p.s. their proximity to the dual-lane road can be a problem for those concerned with pollution.
I was already informed a few days ago that only the mao shan wang (cat mountain king species) was available and the pricing was about S$22 a kilogram, which was the most expensive i had in this durian season; however, i have never doubted Sindy's standard when it comes to choosing the best quality for their customers!
Using a self made wooden device to stabilise the durian, the staff asked the most important question before choosing your durian; sweet, bitter or a mix of both?
Once that question has been answered, sometimes with a bit of confusion as a group could have members with differing tastes, the staff would then proceed to smell the unopened durians for one that best meet your criterion (mostly, by smelling) and then strike the knife at its butt.
No gloves by the way even though they would give the chosen one a customary shave to blunt the thorns. No matter what, don't play play with them; i bet they are skillful in knife management.
And likely strength too; all the staff used their bare hands to pull the husks apart which were really impressive! Imagine if they utilise the same pair of hands to dislocate your jaw! Euwwwww....
Please be assured they are nice people and you are allowed to have a seed of the opened fruit to ensure they are up to your standard.
Flat seed and i was once again brought into paradise by the generous custard creaminess of the seed that was both sweet and bitter. Yummy!
Three durians at S$67 - base on S$22 a kilogram, it would be about three kilograms in total.
Time to whack the durians! We actually had a full dinner at the nearby Whampoa Hawker Centre before we dropped by Sindy and it was no doubt a bad decision as we had difficulties eating this delicious Southeast Asian delicacy!
I benefited i guess since i ate the most while my three companions shook their heads and declared defeat once they got to the second fruit. Haha.
Love it, love it, love it! I would have jumped on the couch if there were one! Seeds were generally flat but i regretted not counting how many seeds there were in total! In my virgin visit to Sindy, it was a 1.8 kilogram mao shan wang with close to 20 flat seeds!
Burpppppppp.
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Location
Block 89, Whampoa Drive,
#01-835 (next to Whampoa Makan Place)
Map
As above.
Website
Contact Numbers
+65 9710 2427
+65 9852 4548
+65 9852 4890
(Do call beforehand to avoid disappointment as they do not have specific operating hours)!
Additional Information
Washing area for your pungent smelling fingers was placed at one corner for your convenience!
Prefer to eat at home and you don't have time to wait in queue? Purchase a pack of the readily packed durians at S$15 a pack.
For those who have had a hard time understanding / do not understand Singlish, Mandarin or dialects, commonly spoken by durian sellers, do note that Sindy herself speaks good English!
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Karma Hits - The Story on Kangaroo
My family is a strong believer in karma.
Let me share with you a story in relation to our subject title today that happened a long time ago; when my elder sister, Joyce, was still in secondary school. Back then, she would often sport marks on her arms and there was a particular day that the marks would extremely noticeable.
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| Image taken from http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1794032/images/o-DRINKING-MILK-facebook.jpg |
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| image taken from http://www.creepybasement.com/fighting-kangaroos/ |
Wait, so what connection do we have with karma?!
Fast forward to the current moment, specifically yesterday afternoon, when i made the mistake of irritating Jovyn, our dearest bulldog-cheek kid, who was an even bigger milk drinker!
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Barelang Bridges (or Jembatan Habibie) of Batam Island [Indonesia]
Photographs of the magnificent Barelang Bridges have surfaced on the web for a few years now and i thought it might be worth our while to place it as part of our itinerary for recent day trip to Batam.
Resembling towers that loomed from afar, the chain of 6 bridges is now included in most tour packages although some might give it a miss given its inaccessibility.
Most, if not all, would likely just pay a visit to the first two bridges before returning back to Batam island where they can make use of their remaining time to shop, dine (likely A&W) and have a massage.
Tengku Fisabilillah bridge - a cable-stayed bridge was definitely the most popular and spans 642 meters with two points at 118-meter tall.
We shall just drive past for the moment as we need to return back anyway. Mr Buldan would stop the car in the middle of this bridge when we return.
There were ample stores along the road and the one thing that caught my attention was roasted corns! I would have loved to purchase a few but we would be having lunch soon! Must save my stomach for the seafood feast...
On the way to the second bridge. We shall not proceed further than the second bridge as the entire 6-bridge stretch would take us about 50 minutes as the distance from the first to the last bridge was about 50 kilometers! As mentioned previously, we need the extra time to shop, dine and have a massage!
Beyond the first bridge, i believe the rest would be less spectacular anyway. The second Tonton-Nipah Bridge was, as expected, rather normal on the surface.
It was less crowded too and Mr Buldan acceded to our rest for a short stopover so that i can take photographs of the surrounding; like this port by the side.
Jerald endured the hot sun by joining in the fun!
The Tengku Fisabilillah bridge at a short distance away. By the way, the Barelang Bridges are also known as Habibie Bridges as the former president of Indonesia (the same man who gave Singapore its now-famous little red dot label) mooted the building of the bridges to improve the economy within Batam
Frankly, i could so imagine an image of two titans playing tug of war from this angle! Speaking of titans, there would be an upcoming Japanese movie on the gigantic beings!
Dad with the Tengku Fisabilillah bridge in the background.
On our way back; at this time, it was close to 1pm and i know the two kids must be famished as we didn't really quite have a proper breakfast earlier this morning.
Reappearance of the twin pinnacles!
Despite the fact that the kids might be hungry, i believe they could endure with a bit of hunger (and burn off those tummy fats) while their uncle me disembarked for a short while to take pictures!
This side would be near to the seafood restaurant we would be dropping by later for lunch. So near only so i guess the kids can tahan a bit more.
Jerald and dad posing for a picture! It's rare to have dad joining us for a day trip although i can see he was really enjoying himself; the last overseas trip he took should be the one to Ipoh, Cameron Highlands and Kuala Lumpur in 2013!
Closer look of the pylon!
The other side.
View of the Tonton-Nipah Bridge.
I honestly could not understand how they would dare to sit by the ledge of the bridge and leisurely continue their fishing! For me, i would be trembling so hard; there's a high chance i might just fall off!
It was mentioned in this post that the bridge is notorious for those who wish to commit suicide! In my opinion, some of the suspected suicide incidents could likely be accidental. The lack of any barrier makes it extremely risky for hyperactive individuals to fall off, unintentionally!
Parting shot by dad! By the way, parking isn't allowed on the bridge and should you insist on doing so, be prepared to fork out 5,000 rupiah!
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For details of my day trip to Batam via a rented car with a chauffeur, click here.
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Shark Point - 1st Stop of the Morning Snorkeling Session with Perhentian Island Resort!
Blessed with good weather, it's the time to lug along my underwater Olympus TG-3 for the morning snorkelling trip with Perhentian Island Resort right after breakfast!
Picking us up at 10.05 am from the jetty, the speedboat drove us to the southern part of the Pulau Perhentian Besar (the big island).
Location: Shark Point; an area still unspoiled by development!
Trembling with fear and excitement, i plunged into the water and went in seek of the elusive sharks that lent the spot its name.
Nothing large appeared ahead of me but i am known to be relatively "blind". Just to share an example; a friend was standing beside me and i never did notice him until he stepped right in front of me! To be fair, i was concentrating on a movie on my phone.
My apparent lack of focus didn't stop me from seeing something in the above photograph; let's see if anyone can spot anything unusual in it.
A jeweled blenny! Maybe because of their eyes, they gave me the impression that they were monitoring our movements and would remain still until we moved closer.
Honeycomb grouper - interesting fact; it has the special ability to change sex from female to male!
Swimming towards shallower water as i am no strong swimmer and snorkelling right after meals can trigger an unstoppable wave of nausea guaranteed to spoil the underwater experience.
I am not the only one even though the boat was anchored quite a distance away. Sometimes, it's good to follow a guide who has more experiences in identifying marine animals; provided you can keep up with their pace!
Always, always wear shoes! The corals can be sharp and once you are in the water, it can be hard for you to see what you are stepping on! Recommended brand: Crocs!
A few photos for your viewing pleasure.
Even though i didn't catch sight of any sharks, the humongous field of cabbage-like corals was no doubt the highlight of Shark Point.
The designation as a marine park doesn't stop some individuals from fishing illegally! For those who are unaware, once a place has been given the marine park status, all fishing within a few miles would cease for two reasons; to prevent over-fishing and to allow the marine community to thrive in its natural environment.
Some took a step further; feeding the fishes! p.s. this is frowned upon by some of the environmentalists, in the same way why the Singapore government doesn't allow us to feed the monkeys in nature reserves.
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For the summarised itinerary of my 3 days 2 nights trip at Perhentian Islands, click here.
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Lao Zhong Zhong Ngo Hiang (老中中五香酥虾饼) - Cheap & Good Wu Xiang @ 29 Tai Thong Crescent [Near Potong Pasir MRT]
As a trigger happy person (for my cameras, not guns), i have the tendency to take a lot of photographs; so much so that backlogs are frequent occurrences and there are quite a number of cases when it's hard pick my ageing memory to blog about them.
Lao Zhong Zhong is one of the examples as i still have photographs taken a few years back stored in my hard drive; pictures i will never get to post in the online realm (given i have a better quality camera now).
Serving Teochew style wu xiang rather than the more common Hokkien style, its popularity can be somewhat gauged by the enormous stack of ingredients expertly piled up by the staff!
For those who are into authenticity, it might please you to know that Lao Zhong Zhong had been around for more than half a century (original location was at South Bridge Road, near the old Thong Chai Medical Institution) and had gained a strong following over the years for its quality ingredients and economical pricing.
What we had - prawn fritter (the super deep fried one), prawn and egg fritter, chestnut egg, century egg, spring roll and fish cake; all for only S$4.20!
Loving the chilli - tangy, sweet, spicy with sprinkles of chopped onions and grounded peanuts! I am quite okay with most chilli from wu xiang stalls but this was an elevated version with a more memorable texture and taste!
Now on the ingredients; surprisingly, the well known orange chestnut egg wasn't the best i had (the one that i thought was better came from Maxwell Food Centre). The rest were good enough for the pricing although i was extremely impressed with the deep fried prawn fritter which wasn't as oily as expected and i was in fact craving for more after we were done!
I was totally caught off guard by the prawn and egg fritter as we usually don't find any egg inside! It's a pity though that the flavour of hard boiled egg overshadowed the taste of the prawns; nevertheless, i do like my eggs!
Friends who knew i had visited recently shared that i should have added one more item to my order aside from the guan chang which i don't take; the sotongs!
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Location
29, Tai Thong Crescent (corner of Tai Thong Crescent and Siang Kiang Avenue), Lao Zhong Zhong Eating House [Walking Distance from Potong Pasir MRT Station]
Map
As above.
Pricing Menu
As above.
Nearby Makan Place
River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles was right opposite Lao Zhong Zhong Eating House. For my review, click here.
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Kelong Restaurant Citra Utama 188 @ Batam Island [Near Barelang Bridges]
From memory; every time i visited Batam Island, the tour guide would bring us to the exact same seafood restaurant known as 933 and maybe because it was part of the package, the food wasn't great and i often had to seek additional options to fill the stomach.
In our recent day trip to the island, we specifically told Mr Iwan (the main coordinator for our rented car arrangement) that we would prefer somewhere different, better and were brought to this rustic looking place.
Without the signboard, i would honestly think this were a lazy fishing village that was economically wealthy enough to build sheltered walkways for the residents!
Free range chickens - like many customers of the kelong restaurant, we did wonder if this would be served as one of our dishes later on.
Humans are complicated creatures; on one hand, we would like to eat like the locals and experience the local life yet on the other hand, we could not help but cringe at the sight of unsanitary conditions. Well, at least the premise didn't stink like a rubbish dump!
The long walk in!
Notice the numerous man-made fish cage structures in the seas; i don't see many boats around so i guess pollution has not become an issue here. Basically, food should be safe for consumption.
Reaching the main wooden building that housed the reception of the kelong restaurant.
Further in (yes, more walking is required) was the seating area; unlike seafood restaurants in Singapore, you don't get the overcrowding feel where tables are literally side by side and you have a good chance of bumping into the chairs of the neighbouring tables.
View, which wasn't much if not for the Barelang Bridges (Tengku Fisabilillah bridge) that provided a beautiful backdrop!
Two seating sections were available and just in case you are wondering, there wasn't any air-conditioning; do welcome the natural sea breeze instead. Anyway, you can choose from either the fixed structural area or the floating area.
I guess it would be more interesting to select the latter but i am super prone to motion sickness and hence, opted for the seating area that was fixated to the seabed using the wooden stilts!
Next to the floating platform was the live seafood section; the above picture actually showed the physical link between the fixed and floating sections.
For the kids, the live seafood area was an eye-opener! Pity their uncle me wasn't knowledgeable in the specific marine animals and could not go beyond, prawns, clams, lobsters and fishes!
This gentleman was enjoying his prawning session.
After seeing a staff pulled up the net full of clams, Jovyn earnestly did the same and with her baby milk power (and strong arms), it was an easy feat!
Okay, i have written too much and it's time to look through the menu and make our order. It was your typical seafood tze char kind of dishes and didn't take us long to decide.
Crab is a must and we were given the option of 'reviewing' the live and kicking product before the kitchen gleefully slaughtered the crustacean. Don't be sad; i would eat it happily to respect its sacrifice! Sound morbid though....
Items on our table; the container kept our steamed white rice which was chargeable at 5,000 rupiah per person; we ordered for only five persons yet we felt it was a bit too much for our family.
Coconut Juice - as you can see, this was an old coconut and as expected, the juice wasn't sweet and the flesh, though soft, wasn't very soft. Plus, it wasn't chilled beforehand.
Stir Fried Baby Kailan - normal tasting; i wouldn't expect much variation from this dish and we had this purely due to its healthier label as a green vegetable.
Fried Sotong - given its pale appearance, i would never have though they were so flavourful and fresh; would have benefited from a thicker cut.
Furong Egg - i used to think this was an easy dish; however, it has been quite a while since i last had a plate of authentic tasting furong egg with a strong infusion of wok hei! This was pretty good but i would have classified it as an onion egg with a layer of diluted tomato sauce.
Hot Plate Tofu - unexciting.
Beancurd Soup - didn't turn out to be the healthier, soupier version we assumed it to be; it was more a thickened soup and since this was ordered for the kids who are soup drinkers, the texture was unfortunately a turnoff for them.
Taste wise, unspectacular and the one word that came to mind when i recollected back our day was "ginger"; there were so many slices of them in the soup!
Salted Egg Yolk Crab - i have been craving for crabs for a long time (the expensive pricing was a major deterrent preventing me from having any) and this was just salty; deviating from the usual salty - sweet flavour Singaporeans are more accustomed to.
Chilli Crab - more tomato than chilli, it had just that slight tinge of spiciness. I did like the freshness of the meat although the two sisters begged to differ. If the crab were bigger, there's a higher chance that they would like it better!
Done with lunch! Want to guess how much it cost us? Look below!
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Location
Sebelum Jembatan 1 Barelang,
Kampung Tiawangkang, Batam,
Riau, Indonesia
Contact Number
(0778) 7821188
Price
As above. Including of a glass of orange juice and three coconuts, the damage was about S$51 for my family of five adults and two kids.
Additional Information
Just a few pictures of the functional fishing village which was known as Kampung Tua Tiang Wangkang! If you have a keen eye, you might have noted that one of the structures is likely a toilet and you don't see any pipe running underneath it.
Some of the staff members of the kelong restaurants lived in the islands as shown in the first photograph and would take the ferry to and fro work.
As there is a number on the ferry, i believe you can also arrange for an offshore island visit if you have time!
For more information on my day trip to Batam and contact details to rent a car with a private chauffeur, please click here!
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R-Rated Chocolate from Hokkaido That Failed to Meet My Expectation
I might be bespectacled and have a nerdy appearance but friends who know me well are aware i can be rather foul mouthed at times (thanks to national service) and can be graphically descriptive if the need arises.
Hence, my interest was piqued when a friend passed me a piece of chocolate hand-carried all the way from Hokkaido with the headline "R-Rated Chocolate for Cavin" on a post it.
Assuming it would be something that would blow me away and render my expletive dictionary a kid's version, i excitedly tore it open.
Now, i am disappointed; a condom-shaped chocolate is hardly considered R-rated material for me! Nevertheless, it was a delicious Hokkaido white chocolate! Thanks, Ms Foo! p.s. the other box of kurogoma white chocolate was insanely good!!
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Tua Pek Kong Temple (Vihara Budhi Bhakti Temple) @ Nagoya District, Batam Island [Indonesia]
From the first time i stepped foot onto Batam Island, visiting the tua pek kong temple at Nagoya vicinity is a given although the positive thing is that i can see its development over the years.
Let us start with the temple which hasn't really changed much; from what i remember, it is the oldest Chinese temple on the island and is also known locally as Vihara Budhi Bhakti.
Incense coils with good luck wishes and blessings took up the front compound like conical hats leaving out to dry under the hot sun.
Seven-tier pagoda to burn the paper offerings; an imposing structure indeed. This is one Chinese religious practice that i could not explain rationally; but put it this way, we could not explain factually the existence of hell and heaven as well. *shrugs*.
Incense sticks holder outside the entrance - i gauge the popularity of a temple by the level and untidiness of the incense ashes and from the look of the above, the religious abode must be as popular as it claimed to be.
Another clear sign of its fame; the irritation of your eyes when you step in. The worst i have ever encountered was at Kusu Island twenty years ago during its annual pilgrimage.
Tour groups would have this temple as part of the itinerary and you do see a mixture of nationalities and races; Caucasians, Indians etc.
Open courtyard where weather elements would affect you; i recollected once when it started to pour and you can see all the visitors rushing for the shelter, emptying the usually bustling center courtyard.
Huge ass lanterns adorning the ceiling! Well, they should not come as a surprise for Singaporeans as this kind of display is pretty common among Chinese temples in the little red dot.
The candles were the ones that amazed us since such big-sized candles are no longer allowed in Singapore due to safety and environment reasons. Want to guess how long could each candle last?!
Main deity for the temple; Tua Pek Kong! Rather small statue if you ask me; even the Qilin (a mythical Chinese creature) was bigger!
A colleague once asked me why Taoist temples have the tendency to have a separate area for Buddhism; i don't have the answer even though i tend to look at it the same way as countries where paganism and Christianity appear to have amalgamated.
添油箱 - replenish the oil box where you make donations to the temple for blessings; seems like the Koreans are also one of their main clientele.
Why was there water when in normal circumstances, it should purely be sand based? This was situated at the courtyard and i guess it must be frustrating to keep changing the wet sand whenever it rains!
The vibrantly coloured wall murals were also one of the main attractions of the temple; many of them depicted characters of popular traditional Chinese stories even though i could not pinpoint the character in the above picture.
This i know - Journey to the West with the main cast; Tripitaka the monk, Sun Wukong the monkey, Zhu Bajie the pig and Sha Wujing the demon!
Differing from usual wall murals, the characters had three-dimensional elements! Quite scary though as the Zhu Bajie did appear as if he was embedded in the wall!
Few decades ago, the temple was just a simple temple with a long history behind it. Tourists visit for its historical value while nowadays, many of them drop by also because of the many gigantic statues which served as interesting photo moments to show their friends back home.
A few photographs for your viewing pleasure.
New building behind the temple which was housed within the same compound. From the Buddha statues on the glass panels on the top floor, i assumed this falls under Buddhism.
There were some activities in the building which i eventually found out to be related to the Vesak Day celebrations. I didn't explore further as i could not find the rest of my family members!
A section was reserved for candle light offerings - there was a banner listing the advantages of donating a candle light offering; one of which is "one would quickly gain enlightenment"! Total bullshit. Nowadays, i could not help but wonder the absurdity of how religions are being twisted and warped.
Don't you think this is a pretty picture?!
Ever wonder what is the magical power for each of the instrument that the Bodhisattva is holding in her many hands? The brain must be superbly intelligent in order to coordinate the use of each hand!
More statues await us at the back of the temple! This one (think they were the seven fairies from heaven) also happened to be the pond for tortoises and fishes.
Of course there was one for the Buddha too! As you can see, the statues were mainly donated by individuals and companies.
Make a guess of what this is supposed to depict! Many Chinese in Southeast Asia should know the voyage of Cheng Ho, the eunuch admiral from the Ming dynasty!
Poor dragon has its teeth chipped off! Urgent dentistry work required!
For a boat rumoured to be an impossibly 127 meters long and 52 meters wide for that era, the statue version was a tad disappointing in size.
Golden Toad - like the Qilin, it was another mythical creature said to be auspicious as it can help to protect and attract wealth. Commonly used in Feng Shui, its placement is of utter importance!
Near to the carpark was another building which was a bit more rundown.
Its devotees were rather specific; parents and children! It's quite uncommon to see children holding on to incense sticks and praying in Chinese temples.
The patron deity in this case is Confucius although Confucianism isn't really a religion; more a philosophy of life. In this respect however, Buddhism is also quite similar.
After the temples and the statues, it's time to take a well deserved respite from the hot weather and all the walking for food and drinks!
Aside from food stalls, there were convenience store and a shop selling religious offerings like oil, incense sticks, papers and cakes. Don't just think that you can use any paper to burn as offerings for the gods; there are in fact many to choose from and some can only be burnt to certain gods and/or during specific festive seasons.
Jovyn and Jerald were more engrossed in the toys we used to play when we were younger. Replicating the roles of our parents, i have to explain why i shouldn't buy for them; i am an absolute believer that we should not promote the behaviour of kids getting everything they want at such young age!
As lunch was just a three hours away, i decided not to have anything although i didn't have a fulfilling breakfast that morning.
I did need a cup of coffee to perk me up though! Hate it when Kopi-O was given (10,000 rupiah) as i specifically asked for Kopi (which should come with condensed milk)!
For those in seek of good food, do remember the stall above along the same stretch. It should be easy to find as it was the only one selling kuehs, dumplings and fried stuff.
Go for pandan kuih cara and eat them while they are still hot! The stall owner saw me almost salivating and offered me a sample! Could not resist and bought set for 10,000 rupiah!
Delicious and not as sweet as those in Singapore although it's best to eat them right away; taste wasn't as fragrant and delicious once they turn cold.
Another item which was a must-have is the prawn crackers!
At three for 8,000 rupiah (less than S$1 in current currency exchange), they were quite good for the pricing even though in my opinion, the chilli was the selling point!
Lastly, a picture of our entourage!
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For more information on my day trip to Batam Island (including contact details to rent a car with a chauffeur), click here.
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Choo Choo Chicken (츄츄) Wings & Drumlets - An Alternative To The Forever-Long-Queue 4Fingers @ Bali Lane [Parallel Lane to Haji Lane]
To be honest, i wasn't keen in writing this blog post on Choo Choo Chicken as our full tummies that day meant we could not order anything substantial enough to warrant a more comprehensive review.
Nevertheless, i tried not to waste the photos i took that day in this humble restaurant with decor that seemed rather underwhelming compared to the instagrammable Stateland Cafe two doors away.
With a respectable five flavours to choose from (crispy, soy, sweet, spicy garlic), we were at a loss on which to choose for our eight pieces of wings and drumlets! On the menu, it was stated as only one flavour allowed but the friendly staff allowed us to select two flavours! So kind of them!
Here they are; i am wondering how i should review the chicken here as we only ordered wings and drumlets. It would not be fair to pass judgment on chicken parts known for their lack of meat!
Anyway, we went with sweet and crispy; flavours we guess would be rather "safe". I also figured that one suitable comparison i could make was with 4Fingers even though i usually have their soy and chilli flavoured wings and drumlets!
In a nutshell, the crispy was good yet i found no exceptional flavouring amidst the crisp while the sweet wing / drumlet was a surprisingly too sweet for my liking. Set against 4Fingers, my verdict was that 4Fingers still has an edge over Choo Choo Chicken.
Of course some of Choo Choo Chicken fans would cry foul over the unfair comparison as soy and chilli could not be compared to crispy and sweet. Yes yes, i hear you and believe me, i would check out the other two flavours for a fairer comparison. Soon.
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Location
33 Bali Lane
Operating Hours
11.30 am to 11.00 pm
[Last Order @ 10 pm]
Price
Wing & Drumlet (8 pieces) - S$16
[Could not remember if GST or Service Charge was imposed]
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Teluk Kekek - Part 2 of Our Morning Snorkeling Session @ Pulau Perhentian Islands [Malaysia]
From Shark Point, Teluk Kekek was merely a few minutes away and while i was still recovering from a slight bout of nausea, it's already time to jump into the water!
In spite of the depth, water clarity at this snorkelling spot was the best so far and this was obvious from the first few photographs taken from my underwater camera.
'Structural wise', Teluk Kekek was blessed with a wide variety of corals, at least from snorkelling standards. Those hardcover divers might beg to differ, i believe.
Chanced upon different clusters of sea anemones; no thanks to the movie, Finding Nemo, i was on the lookout for any cute clownfish that might happen to just peek in between the tentacles!
Got one; albeit a small one.
The usual sea urchins! Have i mentioned before that a starfish has never been spotted in ALL my snorkelling expeditions so far?! Aside from seeing a few at human-built aquariums (like SEA Aquarium), the only time i got to hold one was at located-in-Singapore Chek Jawa!
Eyes of the sea urchin; very alien like right?! Sea urchins are a delicacy in Japanese cuisine; known as "uni", the way to extract its meat was, in my opinion, similar to cracking open a durian!
Fishes, there were spordic displays of them; nothing impressive enough to make my jaw drop. Surprisingly, i managed to get a much wider variety of marine life near our choice of accommodation; Perhentian Island Resort.
I did notice something unique; these bristle-like stuff on the rocks. At first look, don't you think that they are like miniature toilet brush?!
Could not pinpoint a name to the above although i am pretty sure i have seen the feathery-like item on television many times!
View of the bay - as expected, i have the tendency to leave the others behind and swim at my leisure towards the shore. My land nemesis is the snake and judging from the closeness of the trees to the sea, i am as worried that a snake would fall into the water!
There's one practical reason for my behaviour; the nearer we are to shore, the shallower the sea. This bodes well for a person like myself whose height isn't even 'average' by Asian man standard and, the fact that i am quite a lousy swimmer.
I am not the only one apparently even though i got a feel that those persons standing on top of the rocks were just weak swimmers who required occasional rest on stable ground.
One noticeable fixture under the sea at Teluk Kekek was the numerous appearances of huge calcified boulders! Many photos for your reference as there's only so much i can write on snorkeling!
However, i must say the underwater experience for landscape beauty at Teluk Kekek was the most spectacular among the five snorkelling spots we were brought to for our snorkelling packages!
Anyway, we spent a long time at this location and had to rush to our last spot, which wasn't exactly for the purpose of snorkelling.
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For my summarised itinerary of my trip to Perhentian Islands from Singapore, click here.
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Ah Hock Fried Oyster Hougang (阿福蠔煎后港) @ Whampoa Drive Block 90 Food Centre [Balestier]
Mention fried oyster and you would find people with differing views on what constitute a good plate of fried oyster; you have some who prefer a crispier texture, others who like more starch and a few who would rather eliminate the oysters for eggs.
I do have my preference, just like the rest of you. And this brings us to the stall i am going to touch on today; Ah Hock Fried Oyster which used to be located at Lim Tua Tow market (Hougang) and boasts a history starting from 1927!
From the numerous accolades on the signboard, i must say my interest was piqued and after pondering for a while, i opted for an S$8 plate which should be sufficient for four persons.
Now, let's continue with the preferences i mentioned earlier. From the look of the fried oyster, i already have that presumption i am not going to like it; reason being the lack of crisp. Yes, i am a crispy person when it comes to fried oyster and this was a tad too soggy, too oily in my opinion.
In addition, i dislike it when owners are over-generous with the starch. Although i wasn't overwhelmed by the taste (as in the case from many stalls), it was still a bit salty for my liking.
The oysters were really huge but again, i am those who would rather eliminate oyster meat for eggs. Having said that, the essence of oyster must be there in order to differentiate it from our typical furong egg!
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This is just me with my weird preferences. I am blogging about this just so i can refer to this review again in the future and tell myself not to order despite the long queue.
Location
Block 90, Whampoa Drive Makan Place,
#01-54. [Near Sindy Durians!]
Operating Hours
12.30 pm to 11.00 pm
[Closed on Wednesdays]
Price
S$8 a plate; minimum S$5
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Shuttle Train from JB Sentral to Singapore - A Convenient, Jam-Free to Cross the Causeway!
Nowadays, getting across the causeway to indulge in a day trip filled with shopping, dining etc given the stronger Singapore dollar can be a chore with transnational traffic jams that last for hours!
If you have read the news, you should have known of this new shuttle train service that transit between both checkpoints of Malaysia and Singapore, which was about a kilometer apart.
Today, i am going to share with you my experience of taking the shuttle although the journey was from JB Sentral back to Singapore; in my case, it was much easier and cheaper to take the CW buses from Kranji MRT Station all the way to Malaysia.
Recommendation: Buy your advance tickets (back to Singapore) once you arrive in Malaysia. The counter is located at this building with KFC, Starbucks, Rotiboy and quite a number of kiosks.
One ticket per person cost RM 5.00. Why did i suggest buying first? Because they have run out of tickets before and having a confirmed timing does make you more focused on what you want to do without wasting your time and eventually missing your bus (it happened to me before).
Schedule as appended above for your information. I am generally agreeable with the first five advantages; for the six "avoid long queue", i beg to differ!
Arrived at 5pm, we went through the customs in batches for passport-chopping by the Malaysia side. The limited staff and counters would mean the wait wasn't exactly short.
Knowing which carriage to enter is important as there would be a mad rush to the Singapore custom when the train pulls into the Singapore's checkpoint. Note the head of the train, walk the opposite direction towards the tail end and find a seat.
Train interior - bright definitely and comfortable i guess depends on your context but for a ride that takes about five minutes, i am not complaining except for the fact that we had to wait for scheduled departure timing and the air-conditioning didn't seem to work!
Another key thing to note is that i am unsure if seat numbers are given and there were passengers who didn't manage to get a seat! Oh well, it's only five minutes anyway!
Fuzzy picture as i was stopped by a policewoman; as expected, no photography / videography allowed. For Singaporeans who are accustomed to using the self service terminal using their biometric, be prepared for a long wait as there were only three terminals! It might be faster to queue at the manned counters!
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Verdict
Yes, i would definitely use the service again as i don't have to endure the traffic jam at the vehicular causeway which can be rather tiring when you don't have a seat! I would pray that the air-conditioning god works his/her magic...
p.s. After you exit the complex, walk over to the old Woodlands Town Centre for the cheap cheng tng and lip smacking good seafood soup!
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Chong Pang Bedok 511 Main Branch - Pork Satay & Chicken Wings @ Bedok 85 Food Centre [Singapore]
My memory does fail me sometimes and i would neglect to check out my blog on food i might have tried out yet wasn't personally impressed with as in the case of the fried oyster at Whampoa Drive but in this instance at the famous bedok block 85 Fengshan food market, i was very sure i had sampled the too-healthy Lin Yuan Satay before and hence, opted for another stall with a name that left me puzzled.
Initially, i thought this was Chong Pang Satay. A closer look revealed it could be Bedok 511 Main Branch (which kind of threw me off a bit) or even Soon Lee Heng! So which was which?! I didn't ask although my suspicion told me the stall could have sourced the items from various reputable companies and what matters most was their skill in cooking the food for sale.
With just me and my mum, we were rather pessimistic on how much we can take and ordered only ten pork satay sticks and two BBQ chicken wings, in addition to the bak chor mee (soup).
Unlike Alex, i am no big fan of char-grilled chicken wings and two factors would determine my review of the cooked wings; first is definitely the marination which should preferably be honey-based and two, the texture of the skin.
This texture was great; thin skin that had a slight crisp. Marination wise, it could benefit from a sweeter infusion although on the whole, i could not deny the fact that i did enjoy the smoky flavour.
Now on the satay; this was actually my second visit to the stall and i must admit the first time i had the satays were much better. So much so that i commented to a friend that they were tastier than the accolades-filled Lin Yuan Satay.
Having said that, they were still good; just that the meat appeared to be tougher, likely the result of sitting in a tad too long on the grill. The chunks continued to be thick, the pork fats were generous and the marination was definitely acceptable.
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Location
85 Bedok North Street 4, Stall #01-06,
Fengshan Centre, aka Bedok 85 Hawker Centre
Price
Pork Satay - S$0.60 (minimum 10 sticks)
Chicken Wing - S$1.30 (minimum 2 wings)
Additional Information
For review on Lin Yuan Satay, click here.
For review on Xing Ji Bak Chor mee, click here.
For review on Bedok North 85 Fried Oyster, click here.
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Turtle Watching - Last Part of the Morning Snorkelling Session with Perhentian Island Resort
When i caught sight of the two words "turtle watching" on the itinerary for the morning snorkelling session conducted by Perhentian Island Resort, i was expecting a visit to the turtle sanctuary.
Hence, imagine my surprise when the speedboat stopped right in front of the resort, somewhere near the jetty; my immediate thought then was that the sanctuary was closed, we would be cutting short our session and the engine was facing problem.
Nope, that didn't happen, thankfully. We were asked to jump into the deep water and observe the turtles in their natural habitat! Now, that's interesting, considering how elusive turtles are!
And i did see one on the seabed which was easily 6-8 meters below the sea; a depth that i could not reach given how weak i am when it comes to swimming!
I attempted the zoom function of my underwater camera but as you can see, the quality was unsatisfactory! Anyway, there were about seven turtles living in the same area and luck would determine if you are able to see one and i should count my lucky stars to have been able to sight one!
The guide was so nice! Upon sensing my frustration, he pointed to my camera, made a sign that he would dive and take a close up for me, which turned out to be really good!
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For part one @ Shark Point - click here.
For part two @ Teluk Kekek - click here.
For the summary of my travelogue to Perhentian Islands, click here.
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Day 0 of My Perhentian Island Trip 2015
As indicated in the travelogue, it was an insanely long wait for a cab at Clementi but no matter what, i managed to hop onto one eventually and within 40 minutes, i can see the iconic Changi Airport control tower loomed ahead of me!
The dazzling light installations were quite impressive even though the designs brought back nostalgic memories from the past; Alex hated them though.
Rushing for the flight means i didn't have time for anything else! Taking a flight right after work was so exhausting and i am unsure if i would do the same thing again..
43 minutes were all the plane took to fly from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Extra time was wasted as the pilot missed a turn and we had to circle the runaway another time. Well, you cannot expect the gigantic plane to make a U-turn right?
Duty free shop! Alex was keen to spend some time here and waste his money on expensive snacks but i stopped him in time as i was craving for some badly needed sleep!
Apology for the blurred photograph - my objective was to show you the directional signage that actually showed you the way to Tune Hotel!
Unlike Changi Airport, klia2 had a full-fledged shopping centre by the name of Gateway@klia2. No time to shop though; as explained above, i am in need to close my eyes and i figured the extra time i allocated for our return flight from klia2 to Singapore would be sufficient to check out the mall.
Reached the taxi stand; however, there didn't seem to be a direct pedestrian route to Tune Hotel even though the hotel was right in front of us!
Retrace few steps back to within the mall where you can find an escalator to your left.
Take it to level one and you would find a sheltered walkway all the way to the hotel; that's convenience to the max!
We went all the way to the basement as i thought that was the most logical and chanced upon the counter area for rented cars! There's a convenience stall as well where Alex finally managed to stock up on his unhealthy snacks and drinks.
Arrived at Tune Hotel @ klia2 where i can put my brain to some well deserved rest. For my review of the budget hotel operated by AirAsia, click here.
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For my travelogue to the Perhentian Islands, check out the link here!
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Day 1 of the Perhentian Islands Trip 2015 [Includes a Snorkelling Session with Perhentian Island Resort]
I absolutely detest early flight! However, i didn't have a choice as there wasn't any bus service from Singapore to Kuala Besut / Kota Bahru on the date i wanted and taking the multi-city flights was the best option.
It was only slightly past 6am at this point and despite the tiredness, i was quite amused that i finally got to walk along the sheltered walkway from Tune Hotel to klia2 terminal!
Some of the retail shops at the Gateway@klia2 were already opened for business! Honestly, i think shopping in Malaysia is now much more exciting as compared to Singapore.
Of course you still need the customer base and from the look of it at a quarter past 6 o'clock in the morning, the terminal was already filled with so many people!
It helped to be a domestic transfer terminal, i guess as that would attract many more locals to take the train. In Singapore, it just didn't make sense for us to fly from Changi Airport to Seletar Airport when it would take us less than half an hour by taxi.
For AirAsia, all check-ins would be completed via the automated check-in machine. There a few exceptions; for example, if you have an infant with you. Baggage check-in was via another counter nearer to the domestic departure lounge.
Anyone still remembers the now-closed budget terminal at Changi Aiport? The retail scene at that terminal was literally nonexistent and i often tried to check in later since i didn't want to bore myself.
At klia2, it's a different story altogether even though it was frequently labelled as a budget terminal. There were tons to shop and if not for the early timing, i might still be able to stuff myself with more food after a not very satisfactory breakfast at PappaRich Express.
Got a glimpse of the pilots who would be manning the AirAsia plane i was taking to Kota Bahru Airport; remember them for their super loud and clear announcement over the PA system.
The sun had barely open its eyes; yawns! In comparison to an overnight flight (tried it twice to Beijing and Taiwan), i would very much prefer an early morning flight.
Landed at Kota Bahru - my first time to the Malaysian state of Kelantan!
The extremely noisy twin-propeller plane for FireFlyz - this was in my fact my choice carrier but i had difficulty paying online for the tickets! :(
Arrival lounge was tiny and the above photography was taken from the luggage belt which was also just a few meters away from the tarmac.
Our land transfer that was arranged through Perhentian Island Resort at RM 70 per person, both ways as i didn't want to bother myself with the hassle.
Leaving for Kuala Besut jetty!
Rural, agricultural sights along the way. In case you are unaware, the state was governed by the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS); one of the biggest opposition parties in Malaysia.
For the urban kids, you would find loads of cattle on the fields with some eating grass right by the roadside!
45 minutes on the road and you would come to this bridge that crossed the river; you would still require another 15 minutes to reach the jetty.
At 10am, we had another hour to go before we can take the ferry which means i can explore the surroundings! Was still facing a lack of sleep though and both of us were feeling a bit hungry.
Found a kopitiam (even though it was branded as a cafe) that served pretty decent roti canai and teh tarik! Best of all, the April Cafe had free wifi!
Official entrance of Kuala Besut Jetty. For backpackers, do check out the numerous travel agencies housed within for accommodation, ferry tickets and even tour packages to Redang Island!
I even saw one banner promoting a package to Cameron Highlands! Imagine how great it would be to enjoy the seas and then follow by relaxing on the cool mountain! One word, shiok!
Those interested in trinkets for Perhentian Islands can buy them from the souvenir shops. Generally you get the same thing; key chains, fridge magnets, T-shirts etc.
From the short time i was at Kuala Besut, there was one place that came to mind that had a familiar vibe; Sungai Rengit town which i visited in my day trip to Pengerang.
It exuded that laid-back charm and reminded me of my childhood days in the kampong at Nee Soon. Yes, i am one of the few borne in the 80s who have lived in a Singapore village.
Kitty kitty!
Price list for your reference! As you can deduce, i got a better deal through arranging with Perhentian Island Resort. If i have taken the authorised taxi way, i would have to fork out RM 150 for a two-way journey.
About time to step into the jetty!
As with visits to all marine parks in Malaysia, you are required to pay a marine conservation fee of RM 5 per person. What would happen if someone itchy fingers and goes to scratch the foil for all the dates?!
Nothing much at the jetty but i did feel that something was amiss.
This was the vessel that shall transport us to Perhentian Island Resort! With a journey that would take us about 45 minutes, i am truthfully not looking forward to it!!
Located approximately 19 kilometers from mainland Malaysia, we were subject to waves that splashed into the boat and soaked our attire! There was a concerted effort (on my part) to protect my luggage as i could not imagine having them wet!!
The speedboat slowed down when we reached the Perhentian Islands; the surreal atmosphere was a far cry from the extremely exciting ordeal we had a few moments before.
A beautiful mosque that was situated at the Fishing Village on Perhentian Island Kecil. Perhentian Islands are made up of two islands; one Besar (big island), one Kecil (smaller one).
With wobbly legs, half soaked jeans, wet and messy wind-ruffed hair, i was just glad to have made it safely to the island in one piece. I told myself i have to get used to it as there was still a return trip i have made two days later.
Whatever the case, i am on the highly recommended Perhentian Islands and i must make full use of my time to check out the snorkeling!
Checking in to the television-less Perhentian Island Resort, took a bath and it's time to take our lunch before we embarked on our first snorkelling session with the resort!
Took a few bo-liao photos while waiting for the session to start; honestly, i wasn't expecting much after the not-fascinating snorkelling at Pulau Manukan and Pulau Sapi.
We shall be taking the itinerary for the afternoon session. Price was listed as RM 40 per person and included both life jackets and snorkel mask.
The innovative map that showed you the snorkelling spots surrounding the Perhentian Islands.
For a marine park, i was appalled at the way the staff treated this stuffed turtle; poor chap was nailed to the board as if crucified like Jesus! Use super glue or something lah before the horrific sight frightens the young kids!
Returned from our snorkelling session which proved to be way better than expected. There were separate detailed postings on the three locations; Tiga Ruang, Tanjung Basi and Marine Park and you may find them here, there and that respectively.
After resting for two hours due to a dizzying spell for me, we stepped out of the room to find two eagles on top of the tree! Or so i thought until i got back to Singapore, zoomed in to the photo and realised the two eagles were pigeons.
A spectacular sunset greeted us when we got to the restaurant! Thankfully Perhentian Island Resort wasn't facing the East or else i might attempt to wake up early to catch the sunrise even though i still require more sleep!
You may continue to marvel at the sunset while having your buffet dinner. I am a fast eater and there's only so long that a sunset, no matter how beautiful, can captivate me for a sustained period of time.
Without a television in the room means we would have to find something to do and i guess we could start by exploring the other side which was blocked by a boulder and could be reached by either climbing this staircase or wet our shorts by walking across in waist-height water.
No way am i going to soak my shorts and tee shirt! View of the jetty from the staircase; do note that if you are afraid of the dark, the lighting at the staircase was rather insufficient and you may want to make use of the torchlight function on your mobile phone.
An elevated platform with a pavilion overlooking the sea! However, access was restricted and you may only enter if you are a customer. A customer of what, you ask?
Traditional Malay Massage! Alex was ecstatic as this masseur was male and if you remember from my posting on Perhentian Island Resort, the spa at the resort catered only to the female clientele.
He left down his name on the appointment list for a massage session the next day as massaging right after dinner was said to be harmful for the body. On a side note, you would not want all the food taken during dinner to be purged as well.
The other side which housed the Coral View Resort. I shall share more on the snorkelling experience at this side but just to give you a teaser, it was the best i had at Perhentian Islands.
Bloody!! The sea cucumbers were like on the shore and there were dozens in front of me! Mom would be super happy although on second thought, she would never join me on such trips; too hot for her liking.
Coral View Resort - the rooms appeared really cosy and i could not resist asking one of the occupants (a friendly, Caucasian lady) if television were provided. The answer was a straight no!! It appeared to be a Perhentian thing i guess.
Accommodation type and rates for your reference; the next time i drop by Perhentian Islands, Coral View Resort would likely be top on my list!
Restaurant for Coral View Resort - unlike Perhentian Island Resort, the ambience was much better and it helped to have seating right next to the beach!
Turned another corner where we continued our journey. There were a number of food options along this stretch and i did regret signing up for full board package!
Went back to Sri Tanjung Restaurant of Coral View Resort since our dear Alex had assured the waiters there that he would be back!!! He really needs to shut his mouth sometimes....
Ordered a 1.5 liter mineral water at RM 5.50 instead of a glass as i needed to top up just a bit more. The six sticks of chicken satay (picture was placed at the travelogue post) at RM 13 were dry and overcooked. To put it bluntly, the onion with satay sauce tasted better.
This plate of garlic butter prawn was salty rather than buttery and ingredients other than the prawns tasted off. Want to guess how much we paid for it? RM 26!
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For my summarised itinerary to Perhentian Islands, click here.
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Katapult Trampoline Park @ ORTO Leisure Park [Yishun, Near Khatib MRT Station]
The two kids stayed at my house over the weekend and we were in a fix on how to manage their boundless energy; while they prefer to stay late and wake up early, adults like me treasure weekends as the rare occasions when adults can sleep and wake up late!
Louise remembered reading from a blog of a trampoline park in Yishun suitable for children and suggested paying Katapult a visit; i agreed and it's the best decision i have made in the longest time!
Frankly, i didn't research beforehand and went with little expectation. The new building did appear to be a dead place but since Louise didn't call me (i dropped them first as i could not find a parking lot), i guess they must be inside.
I do like the bold directional signages which were clear and indicative!
Woah, not as empty as i thought it would be and from the look of it, this place was literally built for the kids! Kids nowadays are so fortunate; unlike places like the States, trampolines are not common given that most of us live in government apartments and i don't think i have even tried jumping on one when i was a kid.
Aside from being a ticketing counter, it also served as a viewing gallery for parents / guardians who choose not to join their kids. I can understand; older bones do have the tendency to break easier.
Price list although there was a more comprehensive one that i would share at the end of the post; under the regular section, an hour jump cost a whopping S$19 per person (regardless of whether you are an adult or child)!
As Louise was paying, i decided to keep my mouth shut. She also paid a companion fee of S$3 since both kids are known to be bulldozers when left unchecked.
Note the special socks; known as Katapult Grip Socks, it's a must to wear them when you enter the arena and yes, you have to buy them at S$2 a pair. I must admit the quality was extremely good though.
Instead of giving your feet a rest, the consideration is for your shoes! Put it this way, poor them have to endure the weather, bear the suffocating stench from your feet and face the risk of stepping onto dog poo (fault of the wearer by the way)!
So, take them out and put them at the shoe rack! Worried about losing your expensive shoes? Wear something cheap, for goodness sake!
What if the visit was unplanned and your feet are covered by a pair of limited edition sports shoes? Well, you can rent a locker which should have sufficient space even for your bag with thousands of hard cash.
Sign the online waiver at the counter before you step in; this would absolve Katapult from any responsibility in the event you are injured / dead.
Put on the wristband and you are good to go! Marshals were placed throughout the park and those without the wristband / appropriate wristband would be asked to leave.
Here's the bird's eye view of the trampoline park from the viewing gallery! Size wasn't excessively large but i guess it provided comfort for the parents / guardians by providing a full view of the park and allowing them to know exactly the location of their kids.
First station: Free Fall! Now, isn't this a bit too exciting for first timers?!
Replacing water was the humongous air bag that would help to break your fall! Damn fun as it seemed and i was envious of the girl who jumped with such gleeful excitement.
There were clear instructions on what you should do and the risk if you don't follow them. Still not too assured on the dos and don'ts?
Read the detailed instructions! There's a height restriction, which means Jovyn at less than 110 centimeters were unable to jump! What would happen to children like her then?
Before i share with you, here's another photograph of the park taken at the free fall section and that of Jerald who bravely took the leap!
Walk one level down where there's another holding area for parents / guardians who want a nearer access to their kids / charge.
Entry to the park via a less adrenaline charged way. By the way, i was granted permission to take photos of the place! Yipppeee!
Main Court - with 25 interconnected trampolines, you can bounce endlessly and attempt martial arts stances frequently seen on television! Don't overexert yourself; safety comes first and you must also be mindful of others using the space.
Especially the mini jumpers like Jovyn who charged ahead without a care!
Slam Dunk - It's finally possible to do it the way like Michael Jordan, even if you stand only up to his armpit! Make use of the trampoline for that perfect shot.
Dodge Ball - i would put this as a mini fenced up main court for the kids as you require two of teams of players to have a tournament to put forth its actual usage!
With colourful balls that could not have failed to attract the kids, it's inevitable that most of them would pick them up and start throwing around.
In Jovyn's case, she likened this section as a place filled with many slides!
Wall Run - note, only advanced jumpers with a height of 125 centimeters can access this section. It may look boring at this point although its concept was rather interesting; imagine you are able to run on the wall like a light footed kungfu master!
Slackline- the one with the least excitement in my opinion as it's all about balancing!
On the website, it was stated that the "zone allows you to work on your tricks like handstands and jumps and is great for balancing and working the core". Handstands?! Maybe i should try it out too.
Maybe i can start training Jerald first!
Another picture taken from the Slackline. As you can roughly make out, each zone has their safety rules although i wonder if anyone indeed reads them.
Bag Jump - with a total of seven zones, this was the last that was similar to the long jump in school! Two key differences, you can use the trampoline to propel forward and instead of sand that would spray in all directions, you have air bag!
Jerald in his attempt to break the record.
He didn't break the record (there was none to begin with) but he was absolutely enjoying himself! I was so tempted to try myself; i am honestly quite a kid myself even though i am already 35 this year!
Poor boy could not climb out by himself and had to elicit the help from one of the friendly marshals!
Notice the additional mattress placed at the bottom below the mesh? Guess the operator does place safety as its topmost priority although i have to add that human behaviours can sometimes be frustratingly irrational.
For the record, i have never thought that money can be so well spent with the kids expending their seemingly limitless energy in a safe environment.
I am so glad to see them physically drained as there's a higher likelihood of them sleeping earlier and waking up later due to the exhaustion!
Do keep in mind the massive loss of fluids and bring along water for hydration!
Could not resist asking Jovyn to strike a pose! For those who have been following her "development" in my blog, the four-year old girl has now topped the scale at 20.7 kilograms!
As i had to leave to catch a movie and needed to send the kids back to my house, we cut short the hour by about 5-10 minutes! Before we left, Jerald insisted on attempting the free fall again!
Twice if i may add; anyway, i have generated animated gifs to showcase the two jumps! Want to know how to generate an animated gif from multiple photos? Visit http://gifmaker.me/.
Lastly a picture of the kids with one of the marshals (the same one who helped to pull Jerald out at the bag jump zone); the marshals played an important role in ensuring safety for the participants and i can see that they really enjoyed playing with the kids!
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Location
81, Lorong Chencharu, #01-11,
ORTO Leisure Park (the old Yishun Bottle Tree)
Map
As above. Nearest MRT station is Khatib MRT Station.
ORTO Map
Besides participating in children friendly activities (for example, longkang fishing), there were a few restaurants where you can chill out. My only gripe was the lack of a coffee place / cafe!
Website
Other Social Media
Facebook and Instagram!
Price List
As above.
Additional Information
General court rules for your reference.
Didn't bring any water to hydrate yourself? Next to the ticketing counter was a bar counter where you can get drinks and even snacks to munch on to replenish the energy!
Benches were available within the compound for adult companions who could not keep up with the kids and need to take a breather.
Guys like me who are in need to shed some fats can consider GymKour; a cross between gymnastics and parkour that cost S$400 per person!
Washrooms were not included in the building design! However, the nearest toilet was within two minutes' walk (one minute if you run).
Many people at the next door longkang fishing were curious on what the trampoline park was all about; don't wait any further and give it a try! I would definitely do so the next time!
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Satay Guan (源沙爹) -Superbly Good Pork Satay! @ Whampoa Drive Hawker Centre [Balestier, Singapore]
Many travel guides on Singapore recommended checking out hawker stalls with a queue for good food but this theory is only about 70% accurate; i have had food like carrot cake that simply didn't justify the 40 minutes wait!
And despite the manpower crunch, some of the hawker stalls still maintain the old tradition of sending the food to your table; hence removing or at the very least, drastically reducing the chance of seeing a long queue - which was exactly the case at Satay Guan.
The lack of a queue did put me in a dilemma as there were a few other stalls at Whampoa Drive Food Centre that had a long string of customers and i really didn't want to waste my calories on food that couldn't make it! However, the aromatic allure of charcoal grilled satays proved to be irresistible and a order of 20 sticks of pork satay was served!
My best satay stall hailed from Chong Pang hawker centre and i hereby declared that Satay Guan has officially taken over the spot! Appearance wise, the incredibly thick chunk of pork fat was already an eye-pleaser!
What i absolutely love about the pork satays was their soft, juicy tenderness; clearly an indication of the operator's expertise in controlling the time they stayed on top of the hot charcoal. The marination was at an optimal sweetness and it was a shocker (at least to me) that the satays were not even extremely charred yet tasted totally heavenly!
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Location
Block 90, Whampoa Drive,
#01-13, Whampoa Drive Makan Place
Price
Pork Satay - S$0.60 a stick (minimum 10 sticks)
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