Celebrating Xmas with Friend Trip - Singapore (Day 2, 23 Dec - 26 Dec 2011)

Day 2 - Singapore

It was Christmas eve! And my friend has planned to bring me to walk around the Singapore city! We walked a lot in various shopping malls. All the shopping malls were beautifully designed with the Xmas theme stuff.

In the afternoon and evening, the shopping malls we had visited or passed by were: Esplanade Mall, Marina Bay Sands, Marina Square, Suntec City Mall, Raffles City, ION Orchard, Far East Plaza, Tangs Orchard, Paragon, Mandarin / Gallery and 313@Somerset.

At night, we had dinner appointment with my colleague and his pilot friend and wife at Marché Restaurant, 313@Somerset shopping mall. First time eating at Marché Restaurant, I like the concept of how you choose and order your food there. In addition, the environment there is relaxing and cosy to enjoy your food! Love the German pork knuckle there, so yummy and crispy! ^^

Alif Mamak stall - The stall is nearby my friend's apartment. We ordered Banana Cheese Roti Prata, Mushroom Cheese Roti Prata and Teh Tarik as breakfast. Delicious Roti Prata :)

Esplanade Mall - Special Christmas Bubble Tree

Esplanade Art Center - 'Durian' designed building. Theatres on the Bay sits on prime waterfront land by Marina Bay, and offers a complete lifestyle experience - dining, shopping, and the performing arts.

Esplanade Art Center - Spider web art design display inside Esplanade

Esplanade Mall - Entrance to the shopping mall

Esplanade Mall - Some western tourists were checking out the souvenir shop

Esplanade Mall - Beautiful 2012 Countdown advertisement on the floor

Marina Bay Sands - Viewing from the far

Merlion Statue at Merlion Park - Viewing from the far at Marina Bay

Duck Tour at Marina Bay - Spotted this duck tour car from the far... Haha

Singapore Flyer - Wanted to take a ride, but no blue sky + white clouds, therefore  gave up to have a try... Maybe next time :) (SGD 29.50, takes about half an hour per ride)

The Helix Bridge - A pedestrian bridge linking Marina Centre with Marina South in the Marina Bay area in Singapore.

Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands - Pairs of coloured letters c and g, as well as a and t on the bridge which are lit up at night in red and green represent cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine, the four bases of DNA.

Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands - Beautiful Christmas deer and ArtScience Museum

Marina Bay Sands - Finally reached the high class Marina Bay Sands shopping mall

The Rain Oculus, Marina Bay Sands - At the entrance of the mall, it is believed that if you throw a coin inside this, and if the coin is dropped into the hole, you are lucky for the day! (P/S: My coin was nearly dropped into the hole, too near yet too far :()

Elephant Stampede from 11-11-11, Marina Bay Sands - Spotted these cute elephant sculptures in front of the LV Island Maison. My friend saw this too during her visit in United Kingdom!

Ferrari Store, Marina Bay Sands

The Rain Oculus, Marina Bay Sands - View from the inside of the mall. Can see The Singaporean Sampan!

Casino, Marina Bay Sands - Didn't enter :P

The Float, Marina Bay - The world's largest floating stage. Spotted the soccer field there!

Marina Square

Sin Wang 新旺 Hong Kong Cafe - After tired of walking, we rest and had our late lunch here. Delicious french toast and dim sum :)

Suntec City Mall - Cute Christmas tree

Fountain of Wealth, Suntec City Mall - Followed the instructions and touched the 'wealth' water, when I will be wealthy? :P

Suntec City - Another special Xmas tree spotted!

Christmas Deco, Orchard Road - Beautiful Xmas deco!

Tall Christmas Tree, Orchard Road - So bling bling :P

ION Orchard mall, Orchard Road

Tangs, Orchard Road - Another bling bling tree!

Orchard Road - Beautiful lights on Orchard Road during Xmas Eve night!

Orchard Road - Another cute and creative Elephant sculpture spotted!

Orchard Road - Beautiful sculptures for Christmas

Mandarin / Gallery, Orchard Road - Fascinating neon tubes, and it will randomly change its colors

Charlie Brown Café, 313@Somerset- My favourite SNOOPY!!! And a cute little boy with  Xmas hat! Hehe...

Marché Restaurant, 313@Somerset - After queued up for around 20 mins, finally reached our turn!

Marché Restaurant, 313@Somerset - Many choices of food and beverage can be found here!

Marché Restaurant, 313@Somerset - We ordered German pork knuckles, grilled salmon fish, Swiss Rosti with Bratwurst, salad, ginger root beer, normal root beer!

Celebrating Xmas with Friend Trip - Singapore (Day 1, 23 Dec - 26 Dec 2011)

Day 1 - Kuala Lumpur -> Singapore

During my friend's wedding dinner, a friend who working in Singapore came out with the idea that asking me to visit her. After checking with my schedule, I decided to pay her a visit since long time ago she has been asking for it! Haha... So, I decided to celebrate Christmas with her! And we can view some nice decoration of the Christmas together on the street too.

This is the second time I visited Singapore, the first time was also during Christmas week since 4 years ago! Haha... Christmas season is more happening in Singapore compared to Kuala Lumpur.

Coincidently, my colleague also wanted to visit his pilot friend, same period with me, therefore we planned to meet up and have dinner gathering there! :)

However, normally year end means also the raining season. Hence, some photos taken under the rain shower, too bad :( In addition, due to the bad weather, some places we skipped to visit... But, I still enjoyed walking around the shopping malls and eating in Singapore, especially with my lovely and kind friend!

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan - Woke up early morning to take bus to Singapore. First time visit this new bus terminal that located at Bandar Tasik Selatan. It's quite clean and organized.

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan - Took this Transnational Bus that stops at Lavender Street station. The bus was departing at 8:45 am.

Boon Keng MRT station - After 6 hours (2 hours traffic congestion at Singapore custom), I finally reached Singapore! Then, after get off from the bus, I spent 1 hour to find the Lavender MRT station under heavy rain with my luggages, I failed to search the station and finally gave up. Then, I just entered to Boon Keng MRT station. (Not in my plan :()

Boon Keng MRT station - Bought the EZLink card for travelling with the MRT  train and buses. Like the design of the card cover!

MOS Burger Restaurant, West Mall - After a while, my friend finally reached the Bukit Batok MRT station and picked me up! After showered under the rain, I feel cold and hungry. So my friend brought me to eat in this restaurant! This restaurant burger is famous with the rice burger! But, I didn't tried it though! Thanks for treating me, my friend!

West Mall - After had the delicious dinner, we decided to walk around this shopping mall! Able to bought a pretty and cheap sky blue blouse in this mall. Nice Christmas deco!

Bukit Batok Bus Station - After walking around West Mall, time to go back to my friend's apartment. We took this no. 947 bus to her house at 9:30 pm.

Celebrating Xmas with Friend Trip - Singapore (23 Dec - 26 Dec 2011 - Tour Details)

Places Visited:

Day 1 (23-Dec-2011, Fri) - Kuala Lumpur -> Singapore:
Accommodation - My friend's apartment

Morning -

• 8:45 am - Departing from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) bus station at Bandar Tasik Selatan
• Total travel hours: 6 hours (traffic jam at the Singapore Customs)

Afternoon -

• 3:00 pm - Reached Singapore at Lavender Street Bus Station
• 3:30 pm - Reached Boon Keng MRT station

Evening -

• 5:00 pm - Reached Bukit Batok MRT station (near my friend's apartment)
• 6:00 pm - Dinner at Mos Burger Restaurant, West Mall shopping mall

Night -

• 8:00 pm - Shopping around West Mall shopping mall
• 9:30 pm - Took bus no. 947 and go back to friend's apartment

Refer to My Post: Celebrating Xmas with Friend Trip - Singapore (Day 1, 23 Dec - 26 Dec 2011)

Day 2 (24-Dec-2011, Sat) - Singapore:

Accommodation - My friend's apartment

Morning -

• 9:30 am - Had Roti Prata as breakfast at Alif Mamak stall nearby my friend's apartment

Afternoon -

• 12:45 pm - Walked around at Esplanade Mall
• 1:45 pm - Passed by the Singapore Flyer (wish to take a ride, but gloomy sky spoilt my mood :()
• 2:00 pm - Reached Marina Bay Sands mall and walked around (Didn't enter the casino)
• 3:00 pm - Walked around at Marina Square mall
• 3:15 pm - Lunch at  Xin Wang 新旺 Hong Kong Cafe
• 4:00 pm - Walked around at Suntec City Mall and visited the Fountain of Wealth (The world's largest Fountain in the Guinness Book of Records)

Evening -

• 5:00 pm - Walked around at Orchard Road (Raffles City shopping mall, ION Orchard mall,  Far East Plaza, Tangs Orchard mall)

Night -

• 7:00 pm - Passed by Paragon shopping mall
• 7:20 pm - Passed by Mandarin / Gallery
• 7:30 pm - Passed by Charlie Brown Café at 313@Somerset shopping mall (Only able to took a picture of my favourite Snoopy while rushing for the dinner appointment)
• 8:00 pm - Dinner with my friend, colleague and coll's friends at  Marché Restaurant, 313@Somerset shopping mall (Long queue during Xmas eve)
• 9:40 pm - Shopping at H&M clothing store (Bought a zebra stripe one piece dress :)) 

Refer to My Post: Celebrating Xmas with Friend Trip - Singapore (Day 2, 23 Dec - 26 Dec 2011)

Day 3 (25-Dec-2011, Sun) - Singapore:

Accommodation - My friend's apartment

Afternoon -

• 12:35 pm - Passed by CapitaMall, Bugis
• 12:45 pm - Lunch at  Xin Yuan Ji 新源记 Fish Head Noodle Restaurant, Bugis
• 1:55 pm - Shopping time at Bugis Street

Evening -

• 5:00 pm - Shopping around Chinatown 牛车水 (Found many cheap china style souvenirs here!)
• 6:00 pm - Shopping around VivoCity mall and bought some candies as souvenir at Candy Empire shop

Night -

• 7:00 pm - Dinner at  Food Republic 大食代, Vivo City mall
• 7:40 pm - Continue walk around in Vivo City mall and took some pictures of the beautiful Christmas deco

Refer to My Post: Celebrating Xmas with Friend Trip - Singapore (Day 3, 23 Dec - 26 Dec 2011)

Day 4 (26-Dec-2011, Mon) - Singapore -> Kuala Lumpur:

Morning -

• 8:00 am - Depart to Kuala Lumpur at Bukit Gombak MRT station
• 10:00 am - Took Transnational bus at Lavender Street station

Afternoon -

• 3:00 pm - Back to Kuala Lumpur :)

Refer to My Post: Celebrating Xmas with Friend Trip - Singapore (Day 4, 23 Dec - 26 Dec 2011)

Tour Expenses:

• Bus Tickets (by Transnational) - RM 103.90
• MRT card - SGD 20.10
• Meals: 
• - Mos Burger at West Mall (treated by my friend :)) - SGD 0.00
• - Roti prata at Alif Mamak stall - SGD  1.60
• - Xin Wang 新旺 Hong Kong Cafe - SGD 10.80
• - Marché Restaurant at 313@Somerset mall - SGD 38.60 (treat my friend :))
• - Xin Yuan Ji 新源记 Fish Head Noodle Restaurant - SGD 14.20
• - Food Republic 大食代 at Vivo City mall - SGD 8.30
• Clothes -  SGD 112.90
• Souvenirs and others -  SGD 67.00
• TOTAL = SGD 273.50  (rate 2.448 = RM 669.53 ) + RM 103.90
• = RM 773.43