"Balik Kampung"

Yeehh... I was so looking forward to "balik kampung" with my mom. Well, it's more like my mom's hometown not mine, its just that half of my relatives are there. It's been 5 years since I last see them but of course, for the last 4 years, I had to fly into Changi Airport yearly on a transit trip and to my amazed, Singapore changed a very fair bit now. No wonder I was a little lost at some places Jaime mentioned in her blog. Those are indeed new places that was not there 5 years ago. Before I go, I even surf the net for more information on which new places I could visit while I'm there and had this To Do List:-

1. IKEA (5-10 minutes walk from my aunt's place)
2. Night Safari
3. A stroll in Chinatown
4. Eating in Lau Pa Sat
5. Sipping coffee at any Cafe by Clarke Quay while the day turns night

20th October (7.00pm)
Mom was interested to take the KTM even though I was so much against that idea. Well, is always mom's priority to make decisions when travelling back to her hometown. And she wanted to try the bunk-bed on the "Senandung Malam". First time on this kind of service, so definitely has a few negative comments. No place to put luggage or shoe. I didn't dare to visit the toilet, so no comments. But, overall, the train is so old, I think they need some upgrade.

21st October (7.00am)
Reached Woodland custom check-point. Another rather silly arrangement. Need to take our luggages down and then, walked up the train again after all the custom procedures. Then, the train will take us to Tanjong Pagar. Have they not consider the old citizens?

Reached my mom's best friend's house at around 9am. We are putting up at her place in Bukit Purmei. She was reading her morning newspaper when we called her. In shocked to see us, she said, "Your daughter said you're coming in November!" and both my mom and I laughed. My sister had emailed her with wrong information! How silly!! After putting our luggages in the room and sat down for a while, we head down to have breakfast. Food is very convenient in Singapore and never worried we will be hungry at all times. When we get back, I took a short nap after looking thru tonnes of wedding photoes.

By 11am, we took a cab to Vivo City which is currently the largest shopping Mall in Singapore. It will be officially open in 1st December. It used to be an Exhibition Hall next to Harbour Front where people board all Ferry & Cruise terminal. Now, its the place for people to shop endlessly & other activities coming up soon. We had lunch at Sakae Sushi; can't belief it that I just had it last Thursday in Subang Parade. Now, in Singapore.

My mom's best friend (Aunt Siok Kim) tried on a few attires at Celia Loe, this is the first time I heard of this Fashion Designer's name and Aunt Siok Kim has James as her personal Fashion Designer to assist her & having her hubby to approve of whether she could buy or not. And my mom and I sat waiting for her to try on as many clothes as she wants and gave her our honest opinions *chuckled* James kept asking me to try on some fantastic bright colour dresses which he thinks I will look marvellous in them. But, I think my wallet will have a big hole if I end up getting one of them. After almost an hour, Aunt Siok Kim got 4 dresses that cost her about $S450 after a voucher discount.

Aunt Siok Kim & Mom with Sentosa Island as background

Top: A snow-man looking out to the Harbour; Bottom: Kids water-playground

We took some photoes after lunch as they have veranda looking out to the Harbour & Sentosa Island from a distance. The haze was around so not good pictures can be taken. We headed back home around 6pm. Had a shower and relax for a while before heading out for dinner. Aunt Siok Kim & I spend the rest of the evening & night watching Korean series that she bought until we got sleepy.

22nd October (7.00am)
Unbelievable!! I had to wake up early because mom wanted to go Tiong Bahru market to have breakfast and purchase some things. This market was closed for a few years for upgrade renovation. Now, its buzzing with people and lots of food! Mom searching for her favourite food and I had to help to finish up. After breakfast, we head down to shop for clothes. Things are cheap and bargainable. I bought a few things here too. We head back to Aunt Siok Kim's place after mom happily got her shoes-purchase which she is very satisfied with the price and design. We proceed to sit in front of the big TV watching Korean series for hours and Uncle Collin cooked spaghetti for us and we also munch it in front of the TV. He is a good cook!! We simply glued to the series. And Mom was taking a nap or chit chatting with Uncle Collin. Around late-noon, we pack our things and took a cab to my 1st Aunt's place at Stirling Road where we put up for the rest of our visit.

Here, I was trying to get my cousin-nephew; Jia Lek to get familiar with me while I played remote cars with him. He is only 1 year plus. Very hard to get him to smile. But, he is a very good boy. He can sit at the sofa for hours quietly without even come down to walk and he is very afraid of dirty floors. He skipped his nap today since I was around. We had dinner with the whole family and the in-laws at one of the Teochew Restaurant. My 1st Aunt said, "Down memory-lane where your grandpa always used to bring you all out for good expensive meals when you come to Singapore to visit". Well, Singaporean has Food in their mind at all times. They live to eat while I eat to live.

Sadly, one of my mom's old-time favourite dessert gave me a very bad rash all over my arms and body since I ate it. And to top that up, the haze and hot weather kind of make me very uncomfortable if I don't get air-cond places. Anyway, Teochew meal is different from Hokkien meal to some extend. After a full tummy, we head back to shower & after watching the Line-dancing CD for a while, I went to sleep after the music makes my eyes tired.

23rd October (7.30am)
Again, awake early because my cousin brother & his wife & my 1st Aunt had to go work. And when half of the household is awake, they are busy chit-chatting and its so impossible to sleep at that house!! Arrgghh... With the most grumpiest mood, I had to drag my feet up to brush teeth and prepare for breakfast and to the Bank to help my mom with some banking errands. Very delighted with my Wantan Char Siew Mee & a mug of coffee, I was wide awake after breakfast. I love the Char Siew so much!! We walked slowly to the the Bank which took us about 15 minutes. Then, we walked another 5 minutes to IKEA to wait for my 5th Uncle to pick us up where he is going to be our "chauffeur" for the rest of the day!! Hahaha.. so mean of me to describe him this way.

We need to go Hougang to visit my Grand-Uncle from my dad's side. Tagging along my 1st Uncle & 5th Uncle from mom's side. On our way there, 5th Uncle brought me to pass by Little India & Geylang Serai to see the colourful Deepavali and Hari Raya decorations all along these 2 streets. Mom is not interested to visit this kind of places so we did not get down from the car, just passed by. Or else, I'm sure I can try some Rendang & Roti Jala or even Roti Canai made in Singapore!

After a short visit to see my Grand Uncle & his wife, we head to the city to have lunch with my 1st Aunt at Tian Jin Restaurant. I have no idea what is so attractive about this place other than they serve original-China dishes which I think I had tried that quite a fair bit back when I was in PNG. After lunch, we head to Tanglin View to visit an ex-colleague of my mom. She was staying in a half a million private-condominium. To me, it feels like a 5-stars resort. How nice if she has more rooms and could accomodate my mom & myself. I would stay-in and just relax in the poolside reading a book. They had very nice landscape, even have tiny ponds and have artificial ducks floating in them!! Too bad, I didn't carry my digicam with me.

Aunty Chan brought us to Kiliney-Kopitiam for tea-breaks. I ordered Milo Ice since its a hot day & had kaya-bread to accompany our drinks. Well, basically its more like my uncles & mom chit chatting away and I'm just listening the whole day. After that, we head back to 1st Aunt's house to get my camera while my uncle had to get some cards to submit somethings at the Community Centre. Then, we picked my 1st Aunt from Ang Mo Kio MRT station as my 5th Uncle wants to bring me up to Mount Faber. It's my first time here but its mostly for couples on dates. He wanted to show me the whole Singapore city at night but due to the haze, nothing much can be of amazed at... Hahaha...

Then, we visited Jewel Box; its a sky-dining restaurant. Autumn is in the air. We went up to see the view and the gift shop. On our way to the restaurant, we stop by a very posh-restroom. My 1st Uncle said that he don't need to ease himself but when we told him how beautiful it was, he took a peep and told us that, he wants to sleep in it while we walk around. Hehehe... One China tourist lady asked me where is the toilet when she is already in it just she couldn't find the toilet-seat. So, I directed her right to the toilet-seat. Check out the pictures!

In the restroom just next to the 4-sinks with the glass wall overlooking the City-view

Mom & me at the Koi Pond in Jewel Box restaurant; very dark & romantic with only candles around.

Fr left to right : 5th Uncle, Mom, 1st Aunt & her hubby at the entrance of Jewel Box

After lingering around for a while, we descended and head to Alexander Village for dinner. Again, food is very blessing here. Mom ordered her favourite and I ordered a little as I was still full from the tea-break. Of course, we head back to shower and sleep for the day shortly after that...

24th October (7.45am)
Up early because we need to take a long trip to visit my grandma, for Singaporean, an hour train ride is consider long!! And since its first day of Raya, we want to avoid clashing with them. Mom and I walked about 10 minutes to the Queenstown MRT station for a ride to Boon Lay MRT station. I only came to reliase that its cheaper to get the Ez-Link for bas & train fare when I was reading thru all the noticeboard and fare-chart when waiting for my mom while she goes to the restroom. And nowdays, its pretty silly when we purchase for the train fare, we had to put $S1 as deposit and when we leave, we need to go back to the machine to get back the $S1 and I can't use the same card to re-pay for a return ride. Or, is it I didn't read the instructions correctly?!

Upon reaching my grandma's place, my 4th uncle picked us up from the train station to teach us how to take the bas into his house. Then, we walked a distance for breakfast. And we settled down a few hours in my grandma's place and head to Jurong Point for lunch before we head back to my 1st Aunt's house. On our way back, we saw a lot of Malay families in their beautiful kebaya or kurung and to my surprised, one family are all dressed in the same colour!! I don't recall seeing this in Malaysian culture?!? Here, you see each family has a colour-code to represent themselves. And the kurung or kebaya they wear are all in the same design for the sisters and mother. And young married couples, will also dressed in same colour as their husband/wife. How unique! Are they afraid that they will be lost in the Chinese-Singaporean crowd? Hahaha...

Once we got back to my aunt's place, I took a short nap but can't take long because the chatting outside woke me up. So, I gave up in trying to get more beauty sleep instead I watched a movie together with my aunt and mom on tv. Then, we had dinner at Jurong with my 5th Uncle & his wife and 1st Aunt's family and 2nd Aunt & husband. Jia Lek was so happy tonight, he laughed a lot and I managed to take lots of cute pictures of him.

Dinner was okie and then, we visit my 2nd Aunt's house and my cousin brother who I played with when I was young each year could not remember who am I!! Shucks... how can that happened when I can remember him?! *sigh* Can't wait to get home to shower as my arms and body is starting to itch again due to the hot weather. Had a good sleep after I read few pages of my book.

Little Snaily on its way to eat... while I'm on my way back...

25th October (8.30am)
Time to pack my bag and prepare to go back Malaysia! But, my last mission had not accomplish after a tough debate with my cousin-brother last night. I'm heading to IKEA to get my bedsheet. Urrgghhh... Mom is so worried that it will take me ages to come back and kept making me go in time. In order to avoid the "buzzing-bee" nags from her, I accompany my aunt to take the MRT to work and I slowly walked to IKEA. It was only quarter to 10am when I reached there and I had to stand right at the entrance like a fool waiting for them to remove the red-tape. While I see some people happily sipping thru their morning coffee while reading newspaper at the IKEA Breakfast Cafe. I was the first customer who walked in on the dot when the clock strike 10am. Trying my very best not to let the staffs think that I'm adapting the "kiasuism" culture, I slowly walked to where I want while some are starring at me & some are busy segregrating the items into their correct place. Kind of a messy though at 10am...

Took me 5 minutes to walk back with the short-cut I learned & took a quick shower before I dressed up for Brunch. Said our good byes and catch the Cab to Tanjong Pagar KTM train station. We were very early because my dad gave a reminder call from Malaysia to make sure we must be there latest by 12.30pm when our train is scheduled for 1pm. The train-ride back to Malaysia was very rough and noisy and too many stops! *sob* Told my mom, I am never going to take the train again... No no no...

It doesn't seems like a vacation to me. Mostly visiting but at least, I get to meet my uncles and aunties. Just a little dissapointed that my younger cousins or their children can't remember me... And of course, my To Do List managed to accomplish 1 only!! I think I'll work on it the next trip there soon...