Xmas Dinner

Had a Xmas dinner with my brother at 2 Braddell Road.

And guess what?

Cheap n Affordable without breaking ur wallet!

Small Coffeeshop but with big crowds....

Dinner for 2

Just a side note that this coffeeshop is well known for their frog legs and other seafood but we order the stingray only as we only want our spicy fish :)

Total Cost for 2 : ~SGD25.50 for 1 M size stingray, 1 small veg, 1 small onion egg and 3 rice.

NO GST! NO Service Charge!

Just A Note for Drivers - There is minimum parking slots so one might consider parking slightly further or take public transport instead. It is VERY difficult to park during dinner peak hour.

Buses available :
28 93 153 - Along Braddell Road ( Directly in front of the coffeeshop)
13 100 107 133 135 147 155 853 - Serangoon Road

NAME : Hong Chang Eating House
ADDRESS :2 Braddell Road Singapore 359895
Operating hours : 6pm onwards to late
Usually closed on Monday

Bloody Kusu Island

Brunch mini gathering!

Had a brunch with my classmates earlier today near Arab street.

And guess what? 

For a small cafe, it was pretty packed on a Sunday late morning! 

Food wise, let the photos do the talking instead!

Beautiful cutlery display

Hot chocolate with ginger man :)

Tea, anyone?

Truffles egg mushroom :)

Big breakfast!

Symmetry Eggs Benedict :)

Let the oozing egg do the talking.... :P~~~~~~~

Cost per pax (for our meals) : ~SGD34 for 1 drink and 1 main course for brunch.

NAME : Symmetry

ADDRESS : 9 Jalan Kubor #01-01 S(199206)

TEL : +65 62919901

FAX : +65 62919902

E-MAIL : info@symmetry.com.sg

Mint Toy Museum

Test

Istana Open House for Post Hari Raya and Pre NPD 2014!

Another impromptu trip!

And this trip is to Istana!

Since young, I had went into Istana grounds quite a couple of times as a volunteer but never as a visitor so after checking out from Istana Official Website, I decided to go down for a 1/2 day trip with my brother.

Figuring that since the Istana will be crowded, I decided to go there at 8.30am to avoid the morning crowd.

Guess the crowds are even earlier! I managed to clear the queue and security checks after more than 1 hr of wait.

Just to warn most folks that are 1st timer :- it will be VERY crowded with a lot of kids and there will be a lot of events going on.

If you are one who love crowds, this is a very good event but other than that, this is pretty boring as there is minimum places to shoot without people blocking your view.

Some interesting facts on Istana grounds:

• The Istana grounds is usually open to the public on:
• Chinese New Year
• Deepavali; 
• Hari Raya Puasa; 
• Labour Day; 
• National Day

• Admission to the Istana grounds
• Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents : FREE (Please bring proof of identification) 
• Other visitors : $1/pax 

• Admission to the Istana building (air-con; visitor zone to are only on 1st floor; 2nd and 3rd floor are for offices of President/PM and those IMPORTANT people. )
• All : $2/pax 
• Tour conducted by volunteer within Istana grounds/Istana building : $4/pax 

• Entrance to the grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road (nearest MRT will be Dhoby Ghaut). 

• Opening hours during open house are usually from 8.30am to 6.00pm.

• Pointed and sharp objects (e.g. knives of any size, forks) and flammable items (e.g. lighters)  will not be allowed within the Istana grounds for security reasons

• The following activities will not be allowed within the Istana grounds:
• Wheeled sports (e.g. cycling, roller blading)
• Littering
• Smoking
• Consumption of alcoholic drinks
• Pets (except for guide dogs)

• No storage facilities will be provided. Security personnel reserve the right to turn away visitors who bring along items that are not allowed.
• Visitors should have either kids below 3 years old or elder folks above 60 years old or wheelchair access will have priority queue at the entrance but will still subject to queuing up for security screening.
• All visitors will need to go through security screening prior to entering the Istana grounds.

• The sale of tickets to enter the Istana Main Building will close at 5.30pm, subject to crowd conditions.

• All proceeds from the sale of the souvenirs and the entrance fees collected are donated to charity. 

PS: Photos will be uploaded later!

Cycling @ East Coast Park on Hari Raya Eve~!

We went on an impromptu cycling trip to East Coast Park (ECP) on Hari Raya. It had been at least 3 years since I last visited ECP.

Just an overall good time there but it was awfully packed with people!

For a start, please note that the map given by Nparks is a bit outdated. I had added a bit more details to help those who are going to cycle around ECP especially for folks coming from Marina Parade/Parkway. :)

Area A : This is the utmost west side of the map. 

There is currently ongoing constructions at the LEFT end of the cycling/running pathway. 

In short : DEAD END and CLOSED until further notice.

Area B : Where the big splash or utmost western shops should have been.

They are closed for renovation so no access to the food/toilet/cycling facilities near the Amber Garden underpass.

The Road Safety Community Park is open for people who want to have free fun/nostalgic feel. 

Area C : Where the old McDonald's and bowling area used to be.

They are closed for renovation so no access to Marina cove and Parkland Green.

Nearest food/cycling/ facilities from Parkway parade would be at the Raintree cove area. 

There is a BK and 24hr convenient store (Quick 7 if my memories didn't failed me) there. 

Please note Raintree cove only have toilets @ BK and there is 1 super long queue for the ladies. (2 cubicles only)

I didn't manage to find the Pitstop shop nor the public toilet through.

Area D : Where the East Coast Resort was previously known as.

A lot of people BBQ-ing so if you want free fragrance, you know where to head to :P

There is a multi tracks for cycling on the left side of the map so chose your route carefully to avoid getting a bit lost in the mini rainforest (althrough I doubt you will get lost in ECP).

Area E : Where the famous Seafood Centre and Hawker Centre are.

There is a mini slope for cyclists slightly before hitting the Hawker Centre.

VERY crowded on last weekend with a lot of traffic (cars/humans) coming toward this area.

For folks u want to try the motorised surfing, this is the place but that looks kinds boring to me.

Area F : A very beautiful garden on the left hand side of the map (Bougainvillea garden) that will  kill most of the people who are on leisure cycling :P

My recommendation is to actually pedal enough speed to go up the slope and enjoy the breeze while on wheeling down slope.

There is also a Xtreme skate park (nearer the Food area) for youngsters who wanted to try out there stun tskate/bike skills here. It is open to the public for free :)

Area G : Where the crowds starts to thin out.

This area is generally very flat and easily to cycle around. 

Please note that this is the last 2 public toilets before reaching the end of ECP. 

If you are venturing beyond ECP, I believe that you should do a pitstop here for the toilet before hitting the road.

Area H : The utmost east side of East coast park

I had specially marked a "W" mark here. 

There's a water cooler here (infront of the entrance to SAFRA club) for any water top up.

There's a narrow bridge toward Changi but not really suitable for cycling if your speed isn't fast enough.

Beyond the bridge is the normal pavement (not suitable if you want a smooth cycling) so you have to choose between cycling on the main road or staying on the walking pavement. 

Hope this update is good for people who want to do a general cycle in ECP!

Some Interesting Details to note (extracted from Npark):

• Total land size : 185-hectares
• Scenic coastline : >15 km
• Marine Cove is currently under redevelopment and is scheduled to be completed by 2016.
• East Coast Park Car Park C1 is closed for redevelopment works until September 2014. Please use the next nearest carparks: B2 and C2.
• ECP F1/Bayshore Underpass are undergoing improvement works which is scheduled to be completed by November 2015
• The bridge between East Coast Park Area A and Area B will be dismantled from 6pm, 23 July 2014 onwards. In its place, a new steel bridge will be installed and opened in late 2014. During the construction period, East Coast Park Area A will also be closed.
• Camping is only allowed in Area D and G at East Coast Park. Campers will need to apply for a camping permit via the AXS machine if you wish to camp in our parks. [LOL I saw a lot of tents that are beyond these 2 areas]. Alternatively : HERE
• BBQ is only allowed in designated BBQ pits. Please apply for a permit via the AXS machine if you wish to BBQ in our park. Alternatively : HERE