Installment 6: Speedy Singapore
Good Morning Singapore
Jos and I arrived at 1am in Changi airport. Once again we got cursed with a
screaming child on the plane, but we managed to get through it. We took a
taxi to Nancy's and once again the driver was not very familiar with her
address. I was able to somewhat direct him there. Nancy was already aware
that we were arriving late and had left the door unlocked. We got inside
and were greeted with a tray of water and Bailey's Chocolate Mint. Nancy is
awesome!
Mauled by the Malls
We changed and slept. We woke up in the morning and Nancy cooked breakfast
and gave us a key too. We caught up and Jos got to know Nancy more. Nancy
headed to the gym and we took a cab to Orchard Road. We dove straight into
shopping. I can't say I know exactly what Jos' thoughts were on the
experience. We shopped like mad. We went to lots of malls...Paragon,
Takashimaya, Wisma, Isetan, Ngee Ann Building and Lucky Plaza. Jos asked
around about cell phones and every shop had a different quote at Lucky Plaza.
There were lots of name brands and Jos and I tried to find some Singapore
brands.
We ate at the Food Republic food court upstairs Wisma. We had beef kway
teow (sp?), suimai, har gow (w/ aloe wrapper), dumplings, shells with veggies and shrimp and crispy fried tofu. We really ate a lot. I'm full just thinking about it again.
Breaking the Piggy Bank
We continued to shop and the last mall I took Jos to, was the Hereen Mall. In my head I only remembered it as the HMV mall. I really like the shopping there b/c it reminds me of Queen St. shopping. Jos had been really good thusfar and hadn't really gone crazy shopping like she is so capable of doing. THIS MALL BROKE HER. ahhahaha
She found two places. She bought a pencil skirt from Garcon and Jean Perrie. The latter had her walking out with over $100 in spending!! I bought two things there...I'm not sure how much she bought. The person who designs the clothes is actually Japanese, but doesn't have the manpower to have a business there and instead set up shop in Singapore.
I had just been dabbling here and there buying random shirts and some trinket stuff. In one store I bought a nice, black top and a black tie with a crown on it. I really don't know why, but I was attracted to that tie. I contacted Mylia and she was unable to meet me :( It's ok. I really wanted to see the Singapore girls, but I should not expect them to clear their schedules for a one-day rush event with me. Next time, I'll have to kidnap them!
Towards the end of the shopping at Hereen, I remembered I really wanted to go to the Venetian tea house I went to before. I remembered that the cookies were way costly, but they were really good and the experience was nice. Jos and I took a cab there and when I went back the same woman was there. The place is actually called the Cookie Museum.
Tea and Foodage
She did a tea service for us and yeah...Sam dropped the big bucks for three tins of cookies. It was my treat to myself...very extravagant! After that, I brought Jos to the outdoor food court to eat. I really hope Toronto could have one like this! It is really nice, great atmosphere and yummy food.
We ate hot pot, beef satay sticks, bbq ribs, oyster omelet and we drank Chelon (sp?) which is a nice drink with beans, and other things in it. Jos was really charmed by the hot pot owner and we took pictures with her too. After that we walked through Marina Square and Suntec City.
I felt that Jos' trip would not be complete if she didn't ride the Singapore MRT. She was quite overwhelmed...and I think jetlag might have played a part too. Hahahah I haven't seen her that overwhelmed and giggly for a long time. All we did was laugh and make a ruckus! She looked so lost!!
We waited in a long taxi queue and in the morning Nancy cooked the best pancakes ever and we also had ham and bubbly. THANKS SO MUCH NANCY! It was great to see you again!
-Sam
Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, March 30, 2008
2nd installment: the VERY LONG end of SG and Lost in Korea...
Hello Kiddies,
Des and I are still alive! After spending 30 mins in front of this computer, trying to write in English not Korean characters...here is the 2nd installment. On April 7th, we met up with my friends. We got really spoiled! We ate lots of food, shopped in markets, went sightseeing and ate really late. Guess what I ate? STING RAY!!! Yep...and chilli crab, fried carrot cake, oyster omelette and hokkien (sp?) noodles? Yeah...we ate so much and my friends never let me pay for anything...they're really sweet. What else? Des and I took the very last train...we ran for the escalator because we didn't want to climb the stairs with all those bags if the escalators stopped working. Lots of bags from shopping, gifts and stuff for Mellers who I am staying with in Japan.
Ok...so Nancy drove us to the airport and my suitcase is already wayyy heavy. I asked at the airport and we can have 32kg/luggage and you can have two pieces of luggage (to be checked in). I'm under 32kg for that big one so I guess I might need another luggage...but carrying that thing is insane...you'll find out why...Where was I? Oh yes, the HK airport...free internet. We were trying to rush and send emails b/c I haven't called or emailed in a while. I look at the computer time and it says 10:28am, but Des asks me to check my watch. Good thing cuz it was 10:43 and suddenly we hear "LAST CALL FOR FLIGHT CX416"...holy crap that's our flight...so we go running to the gate!!! My bag decides to open, so in the middle of running, Des is running behind me zipping my bag up and making sure nothing falls out. Before you decide to scold me, we weren't the last ones in line...lots of ppl were also behind us. hahahah... Also I have been stopped at security a number of times...for a watch, for coins and for my air freshner. We got out of there safe, even though we broke so many rules..but I'll have to tell you in person...hahaha
We finally get to Korea! YAY!! Except guess who doesn't have the phone number or address for Namsan Guesthouse? I have the directions and prices, but no address....what a dorko! So we look around for internet and find none. We went to get a phonecard to call or a service desk and suddenly I hear this voice. "May I help you"? I see a Korean woman with a cell phone and she definitely doesn't work there. She was so sweet! She called information to find out the address for us and we kept thanking her. She said she thought I was Korean. Anyway, she tells us to take a limo bus and guides us outside...next thing we know, we are handing our luggage off to someone and given a ticket. We're asked to pay 8,000 won and we're off to the nearest way to get to Namsan Guesthouse. I checked the internet directions I had printed out and the bus was on there too. She got us on the right bus and saved us lots of money b/c we were close to taking a taxi. Before we could thank the lady, she was gone. I didn't even get her name. She is my Korean Angel #1. <--#1 means there were more...haha
Korean Angel #2
We get off the bus and are trying to follow the directions. It says go into the subway station and get out at exit #3. So we are carrying all our luggage and I'm carrying that huge monster luggage too...down the four/five flights of steps. I swear I thought the thing would fall but thank you dragon boating I was able to take it down. Well we get there and we don't see a sign that remotely looks like a three. So I go to ask the man behind the glass, who doesn't look like he understands me. So I try my limited Korean asking where Namsan is..and then Pacific Hotel, b/c Namsan is near there. He gives directions in his best English. What a nice guy, but not Angel #2. Angel #2 is the guy who was wearing a medical mask who took pity on me lugging that dumb luggage UP the stairs. He helped me carry it. =)
Namsan
So we find the exit by walking several blocks outside. We are both sweating like crazy by now and trying not to panic and some guy says to us "Namsan Guesthouse?" He points upward 200m walk. Bloody hell (excuse my language) remember how in some Korean shows there are these upward streets? Well yeah...this one was an UPHILL MOUNTAIN with that 26.7kg luggage, my knapsack and "purse"...ahahha...I thought it would never end. Des was in better shape than me, did I forget to tell her my cardio sucks? After a bazillion years I finally get there totally wiped out and Des, who got there first, says I have to confirm. So I tell him my name and he has the room ready. I'm still panting and asking him if I need to pay right away or when we leave, he just looks at my sorry state and says, "you can pay tomorrow". Thank goodness. He helped me carry "monster luggage" up the stairs to the room. The room is a little small but is good for us. We have our own washroom and there's no tub. There's a shower head and a drain.
We decide to adventure out a bit...Des mentioned something about lactic acid and being sore in the morning. We found a store and by now it was 11:45pm. We shop around and see the lovely $1.20 soju and the cheap gimbap and ramen. Of course I don't have my phrasebook so I'm trying to remember what to say. Thank you Jimmy, I asked how much it is correctly. ^^ Des was really happy b/c with these prices, she can definitely eat and stick to the budget. We ask them what time they close and lucky us, they never do. MUAHAHAH...We both bought gimbap and aloe juice. Des got her bottle of soju and onigiri too. I got ramen as well. The very nice young man there directed us to the hot water. I asked him if I could use it for my ramen too and then he made my dinner. How kind! I think that deserves title of Korean Angel #3.
There is a group of German university students here. They're having a bbq tomorrow and invited us. We met them just when we got in.
OMG this is a novel! I just wanted to update you, but here it is. Maybe I should print it and glue it into my journal. Who do I owe hugs for reading until the end?
-Sam
*originally written: April 8th, 2006
Des and I are still alive! After spending 30 mins in front of this computer, trying to write in English not Korean characters...here is the 2nd installment. On April 7th, we met up with my friends. We got really spoiled! We ate lots of food, shopped in markets, went sightseeing and ate really late. Guess what I ate? STING RAY!!! Yep...and chilli crab, fried carrot cake, oyster omelette and hokkien (sp?) noodles? Yeah...we ate so much and my friends never let me pay for anything...they're really sweet. What else? Des and I took the very last train...we ran for the escalator because we didn't want to climb the stairs with all those bags if the escalators stopped working. Lots of bags from shopping, gifts and stuff for Mellers who I am staying with in Japan.
Ok...so Nancy drove us to the airport and my suitcase is already wayyy heavy. I asked at the airport and we can have 32kg/luggage and you can have two pieces of luggage (to be checked in). I'm under 32kg for that big one so I guess I might need another luggage...but carrying that thing is insane...you'll find out why...Where was I? Oh yes, the HK airport...free internet. We were trying to rush and send emails b/c I haven't called or emailed in a while. I look at the computer time and it says 10:28am, but Des asks me to check my watch. Good thing cuz it was 10:43 and suddenly we hear "LAST CALL FOR FLIGHT CX416"...holy crap that's our flight...so we go running to the gate!!! My bag decides to open, so in the middle of running, Des is running behind me zipping my bag up and making sure nothing falls out. Before you decide to scold me, we weren't the last ones in line...lots of ppl were also behind us. hahahah... Also I have been stopped at security a number of times...for a watch, for coins and for my air freshner. We got out of there safe, even though we broke so many rules..but I'll have to tell you in person...hahaha
We finally get to Korea! YAY!! Except guess who doesn't have the phone number or address for Namsan Guesthouse? I have the directions and prices, but no address....what a dorko! So we look around for internet and find none. We went to get a phonecard to call or a service desk and suddenly I hear this voice. "May I help you"? I see a Korean woman with a cell phone and she definitely doesn't work there. She was so sweet! She called information to find out the address for us and we kept thanking her. She said she thought I was Korean. Anyway, she tells us to take a limo bus and guides us outside...next thing we know, we are handing our luggage off to someone and given a ticket. We're asked to pay 8,000 won and we're off to the nearest way to get to Namsan Guesthouse. I checked the internet directions I had printed out and the bus was on there too. She got us on the right bus and saved us lots of money b/c we were close to taking a taxi. Before we could thank the lady, she was gone. I didn't even get her name. She is my Korean Angel #1. <--#1 means there were more...haha
Korean Angel #2
We get off the bus and are trying to follow the directions. It says go into the subway station and get out at exit #3. So we are carrying all our luggage and I'm carrying that huge monster luggage too...down the four/five flights of steps. I swear I thought the thing would fall but thank you dragon boating I was able to take it down. Well we get there and we don't see a sign that remotely looks like a three. So I go to ask the man behind the glass, who doesn't look like he understands me. So I try my limited Korean asking where Namsan is..and then Pacific Hotel, b/c Namsan is near there. He gives directions in his best English. What a nice guy, but not Angel #2. Angel #2 is the guy who was wearing a medical mask who took pity on me lugging that dumb luggage UP the stairs. He helped me carry it. =)
Namsan
So we find the exit by walking several blocks outside. We are both sweating like crazy by now and trying not to panic and some guy says to us "Namsan Guesthouse?" He points upward 200m walk. Bloody hell (excuse my language) remember how in some Korean shows there are these upward streets? Well yeah...this one was an UPHILL MOUNTAIN with that 26.7kg luggage, my knapsack and "purse"...ahahha...I thought it would never end. Des was in better shape than me, did I forget to tell her my cardio sucks? After a bazillion years I finally get there totally wiped out and Des, who got there first, says I have to confirm. So I tell him my name and he has the room ready. I'm still panting and asking him if I need to pay right away or when we leave, he just looks at my sorry state and says, "you can pay tomorrow". Thank goodness. He helped me carry "monster luggage" up the stairs to the room. The room is a little small but is good for us. We have our own washroom and there's no tub. There's a shower head and a drain.
We decide to adventure out a bit...Des mentioned something about lactic acid and being sore in the morning. We found a store and by now it was 11:45pm. We shop around and see the lovely $1.20 soju and the cheap gimbap and ramen. Of course I don't have my phrasebook so I'm trying to remember what to say. Thank you Jimmy, I asked how much it is correctly. ^^ Des was really happy b/c with these prices, she can definitely eat and stick to the budget. We ask them what time they close and lucky us, they never do. MUAHAHAH...We both bought gimbap and aloe juice. Des got her bottle of soju and onigiri too. I got ramen as well. The very nice young man there directed us to the hot water. I asked him if I could use it for my ramen too and then he made my dinner. How kind! I think that deserves title of Korean Angel #3.
There is a group of German university students here. They're having a bbq tomorrow and invited us. We met them just when we got in.
OMG this is a novel! I just wanted to update you, but here it is. Maybe I should print it and glue it into my journal. Who do I owe hugs for reading until the end?
-Sam
*originally written: April 8th, 2006
Sam and Des' Asian Adventure - 1st installment
Hello Sweeties...
Do you miss me, cuz I miss you...B/C i'm a lazy, i mean..too smart to waste energy..I'm just gonna type out things I wrote in my journal...and random thoughts...
-Cathay Pacific ROCKS! All they do is feed us, so Des and I talk, eat and sleep...
-Landed in Alaska, but we couldn't leave the plane...booo....
-Poor Aerosol dude...he stood there with plastic gloves and would spray/marinate the washroom like crazy everytime someone left for 30 min. intervals...this is what it says in my journal...
"LMAO...why is it always the poor crew guy aerosoling the washroom? >_<>
*originally written: April 5th, 2006
-I only gagged once when I went to the washroom...
-Used up a lot of tissue, since I'm still slightly sick, Des got a whole box for me...she even found the Korean radio station so I could listen
-Haven't seen sunlight in almost two days...
-Got stopped by security for metal item in my bag. For the life of me, couldn't figure out what it was. They were very nice about it though. Turned out to be my air freshner...
-FOUND MY TIRAMISU COVERED ALMONDS!!! I dreamed about them for 2 years.
SINGAPORE SO FAR
-Being here has made Des and I realize how much we take for granted in Toronto
- Almost NO INTERNET CAFES...we're dying here...I need internet...thank goodness Des saw this place..
- A cool breeze...there aren't any here...so I am obsessed with air conditioned malls/stores
- You can't easily make collect phone calls and have to buy a phone card
- You have to wait in line for a cab...but ppl will still hail and steal the cab from ppl in line..WE REALLY DON'T GET IT
- Yesterday Des *blinked* three times at the table...we had to get her food take-out, b/c she was really gonna sleep...I was no better...In the taxi line I blinked and took a step. Luckily, taking that step woke me up and I didn't hit the pavement. Needless to say we had a good rest when we got home.
- Orchard Road is like Westernized NAME BRAND shopping! We see all the things we have in Toronto, so we didn't buy too much...although there was a mall with Queen St. like clothing.
- MALLS LIKE CRAZY...and they are all pretty much connected...
- Food is plentiful! Not 10 steps away, there is always food!...Yummy food!
- Ate vendor food...it was yummy..but kinda greasy..but good...needed water or arteries would clog..
- We're trying not to buy things we know we can get in Toronto, or Korea or Japan
- Subway is clean...you will be fined for...eating/drinking in the subway, bringing Durian in, littering and something else...
- Today we will go to Suntec City and check out the World's Largest Fountain...we want to check out a reserve tomorrow and maybe the zoo?
ok...that's all for now folks. Did you make it to the end? If you did, I owe you a hug!
Until we meet again...fare thee well...
Lots of love,
-Sam
p.s. if there are spelling mistakes, etc...too bad..hahahaa...i'm in a rush...huuhuuu. I know you still love me anyway!
*originally written: April 5th, 2006
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