chronicles of a frenchie: May 25, 2008

Friday, May 30, 2008

traveLog: Singapore Day 1 (Evening)

(Blog Update For 29th May 2008)

Just settled into the hostel this afternoon, running late to meet up with Ferina. And what made it even worse was that i kinda lost my way in Little India to get to the MRT Station. Open uppp yO!!! the map lah! what else :P (No no... there's no flashers here in Singapore.. i think).

There's so many changes here in Singapore, there's always changes and Singapore is somewhat an ever changing city from various different aspects, not just shopping malls but their deco's, entrances (Orchard MRT) and lots of new developments. As i passed by the Promenade / Esplanade... saw the new land where they're building the Casino and a few other stuffs. And i was stunned by the magnificent view of the Singapore Flyer (currently, the biggest in the world!).

Look at the structure here, the design, everything is just so nice!!! Artist impression is nice la but i bet the real thing would be as nice :-)

Ooopsss... ok let's talk about Ferina! Went to Little India MRT - got myself an EZ Link card (i tell you arr... everytime i go to SG i always get an EZ Link card and sell it off once i'm done with it and i waste my SGD$5!!!). Folks, juz keep the card for future use! Ferina changed a little bit since the last time i met up with her but hey, everyone gets older but Ferina on the other hand got younger! :P

Ferina is going off to Bandong on Saturday and today (friday) is her graduation from college! I tell you... she's been doing alot of write-ups for Singapore Press, and some Malaysian newspapers where they bought her stories on The Tsunami and all that and it really paid off quite well! A successful Journalist soon to be! Apparently Ferina's friend works at The Inn-Crowd Backpackers Hostel...Caleb is his name and what a small world la! Met this guy at the hostel when checking in with Ping and Vicki there!

I also met up with Bobby (my former colleague from Xfresh...but now he's like 19). Yep yep... i feel so OLD! Mwhahaha... anyways met up at Far East Plaza walked around to HMV and a few other places... (Tangs is juz too expensive for me!!!) - talking about TANGS! This reminds me of a drink that they used to sell in powder form in supermarket...some sort of Orange juice powder thing! Do they still exist?

We went for dinner...wanted to eat at Wisma Atria's FOOD REPUBLIC! There's alot of food stalls to choose from there, but unfortunately the only one that's Halal is an Indian / Malay nasi campur! Aiyoo... i really needed rice but didn't fancy the dishes that they have there! So we went toTakashimaya food court and still nothing nice or Halal to eat. Then we went to our last resort... KFC / McD!

Talking about KFC here... OMG! I don't know if it's just me or what... but their Hot & Spicy is actually Crispy! The lady at the cashier counter asked me if i wanted original or crispy? I told her Crispy... i thought that Crispy is actually Hot & Spicy! Hmmm... it was tasteless la their chicken, some more i paid SGD$8.40 for my 3pc chicken meal with coleslaw, potato and drink (no buns!). Sheeshhh... that's like RM18! Next time around i'm going to McD or some cheap place la! I've been on holiday for too long, been spending money like crazeee!

Shaun and Gwendelyn came by later at McD... and we all browsed thru my laptop for some pics from Bangkok and a few other trips! Shaun who is a photography enthusiast is getting his D40 soon!!!

The shopping malls here closes quite early...9.30! Yep, that's early la for me..! So we walked on Orchard to go to the MRT, Wahhh.. the MRT changed its facade! Really... they're trying to make it some sort of "ION" thing which looks like a clubbing scene! Its really nice and posh for an MRT entrance don't you think so? I didn't feel like i was going into an MRT station, it felt more like a club or a shopping mall! Eitherways, shopping malls are an abundance here! Loads of em everywhere, even subterranean levels got malls! Wahhh laooo ehhh...

Anyways, it's time for me to go out for my shopping spree today! Need to get me self new shoes before i can go walking around 1million km's at the Zoo, Night Safari, Underwater world and all! Hehehe... Ok me goin out! Peace y'all.

PS: Contact details for The Inn-Crowd Backpackers Hostel is at the bottom of this entry.

Ahhh their ice-cream here is nicer than Malaysia and less creamy i like!

Food Republic @ Plaza Atria!

TOAST BOX - Remember this??? We have it in KL too!

Their FOOD REPUBLIC here looks ok! But FR in Pavilion is wider and bigger!

Bobby - my former colleague at Xfresh! One of the youngest journalist back then!

Ferinaaaa!!! Wassuppp girl! :-) Had a lovely time here in SG with ya! All the best at your graduation and Bandong trip!

(L-R: Gwendelyn, Shaun, Bobby and Ferina) - Friends from Singapore!

Ferina...aiyoo known this girl since 2003 :-)

Ok ok... maybe i shouldn't have worn the Malaysian Idol t-shirt! :P

I was holding a SGD$5 dollar note to show proof that i'm in Singapore!

Slow shutter speed picture! In front of the Shaw House building on Orchard!

Patterson Rd - Whee Lock place! another mall to go to :-)

The entrance to Orchard MRT Station! Fully renovated to make way to the new building they're constructing right above!

Going down to the MRT - looks like you're in a club!

ION @ Orchard... Hmmm what's this? a new shopping center?

I guess this is what they're talking about! ION - Hmmm Singapore innovative design never stop to amaze me!

The Inn-Crowd Backpackers Hostel
73 Dunlop Street
Singapore - 209401
Tel: +65 6296 9169 / +65 6296 4280
URL: http://www.the-inncrowd.com
Price: Please check the website for current pricing and online reservation.
(Currently i am lodging here in the dorm @ SGD$20 per night - very reasonable and you'll definately feel homely here! Like you never left home!).

Thursday, May 29, 2008

traveLog: Singapore Day 1

(Blog Update For 29th May 2008)

Wasssuppppp people!!! I am currently in Singapore. Yes i've arrived safely, and for those of you who are SHOCKED that i'm in Singapore... oh well yea! It was an impromptu trip! Juz one of those trip that i just felt like going to... thought about it like on Monday and made my reservations for bus and hostel then and here i am!!! In the land of the Great Singapore Sale, where you can get up to 70% discounts from now till mid July!!!

I will be updating my blog daily...from today onwards! Yes, i know it's kinda hard to believe, but hey... i gotta do what i gotta do lah! Since internet is not a problem here @ the place i'm staying... so i'll be online, it will be like as if i never left Malaysia!

My journey started of with a 8am coach at Pasarrakyat on Transtar First Class Coach, check them out at http://transtar.com.sg - it's a 16 seater coach with massaging chair, games, 10" LCD personal screen and meals on board! (Anyways, that will be my 1st and last trip on a Transtar - i felt cheated!!! I was really expecting their new 3rd Gen double decker bus that i always see in the posters, magazines and sometimes on the road! But nahh...i think i got onboard their 1st Gen coach - the interior condition of the seats are quite bad and some functions on the seat are not working! Heck, they don't even have Hot Chocolate drink (my favourite!!! on Aeroline) onboard! How can they do that??? I mean, when i was on board Aeroline they served Breakfast and Brunch and lots of drinks throughout the journey! This bus didn't even have a toilet onboard! Anyways - will talk about the bus in a later post!

Finally arrived here in Singapore, took a cab to The Inn-Crowd Backpackers Hostel (the one that i've heard rave reviews about it and some really good comments and feedback!) It's situated in Little India on Dunlop Street, nearby to Little India MRT station and Bugis MRT and the famous Bugis Junction shopping mall!

On Sunday night, i spent 6 hours online from 11pm - 5am in the morning doing research online about where should i stay in Singapore? Wanted to stay at my cousin's place...but nahh!!! wanted to book a hotel.... but come on SHAZ!!! Be adventurous a lil' bit... ok ok!!! So yea, i decided to try out "Backpacking" style! So yea.... did some research on a few backpackers hostel in Singapore, found out about the one at Bugis (that multicoloured building...), The Hive Backpackers Hostel and The Inn-Crowd Backpackers Hostel. After much research, reading comments, feedbacks, blog updates, facebook and all... i finally decided that The Inn-Crowd is my #1 Choice.

Here i am @ The Inn-Crowd Backpackers Hostel - it's clean, its nice, its cozy, its homely, you have everything under one roof and it's far much better than staying in a hotel (apart from the privacy that you get) but hey, there's a lot of people here, if you're travelling alone - you'll definately not feel lonely!!! The crew-members here at The Inn-Crowd are very nice and will help you all the way, help you plan your day and trips here in Singapore! They're not just your usual people at the front counter / cashier / concierge... but they're your friend!

Anyways, i'm going out to Little India in a bit, gonna grab a bite somewhere and meeting up with Ferina at Little India MRT to go to Orchard! (Oops... who is Ferina... hehehe, yea yea i haven't told you peeps about her eh! Aiyaa secret lor!).

Check my blog daily for more updates!!!
Shaz - signin' out!!!

The living area of The Inn-Crowd Backpackers Hostel - oops! I left out the sofa beneath it!

The Living Room with a pool table, internet PCs, Kitchen, TV Area...

Anyways, last week i got 11 tickets to Indiana Jones Premier @ Cineleisure - The Curve. Invited 11 friends but about 4 peeps couldn't make it last minute! Anyways it was a really nice show! You guys ought to go out and watch it!

Nigel...he's studying @ Purdue soon!!! - Nathanael from MMU Cyberjaya working here tonight! Was surprised that he was here! William of Le Meridien KL...50% off on food yO!!!

David, Henry and Nigel - yep.... i was still hungry after dinner! And we went to McD to eat MORE.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Movie Premiere: Prom Night

(Blog Update For 26th May 2008)

The movie premiere for Prom Night was held last night (Monday evening @ Cineleisure the Curve) at 9.30pm. I had 20 movie passes for this movie but i decided to invite 13 friends only, some of which last minute couldn't make it! But hey, no worries yo...! But hey, the turnout was 11 friends in total :)

Now, let's see... we met up for dinner @ Little Penang Kafe at Curve and headed to the cinema! Wai Seng helped me out with the setup of the hall with the bunting stands and all.

Some of my friends who were here tonight for the movie... let's see who do we have! Hmmm... Wai Seng, Joshua Ong, Xian Jin, Kevin C, Jasmine, David Lai, Evelyn, Kylie and Karen.

Anyways... Prom Night was ok la...nothing to shout about! I'm not really a horror movie kinda person! The movie was ok, would give it 7/10 rating for a horror movie that managed to terrify me. When are you going to go and watch it? Be sure to catch it in the cinemas this 5th June!!!

PS: If you haven't watched Indiana Jones, GO AND CATCH IT WHILST STILL HOT in the Cinemas!!!