Singapore ~ Final Day

From Day 2

Final Day.

Actually I have been to Singapore like hundred times but this trip should be my debut as tourist. After very exhausting playtime from the day before and because we're so lazy to be crowded in MRT we just get tour guide for today sightseeing, but it ended up the guide is a jerk – better for ourselves alone rather than with him. He is Malaysian but working with travel agent at Singapore, that’s make him the plastic hypocrite, while he keep bragging how good Singapore is and always condemning Malaysia, he started to look so pathetic and I feel sorry for him – I’m proud Malaysian OK, no matter how outstanding the others, I just love my country and I’m proud of my nationality, period. So if someone is trash talking about my proud (worse case he is Malaysian!) he is a douche bag! 

Continue to my last @Singapore

First we stopped at The Civic District walk by Esplanade Park later to Merlion Park and then to Orchard Road.

We had lunch at the famous Indian Muslim restaurant Singapore Zam Zam located at purple shophouse at the corner of Arab Street. They served very nice food with huge portion, 1 plate is equivalent of 2person with cheap price. For a plate Briayani Rice and Chicken Murtabak it only cost $12. 

After lunch we stop at Mustaffa (famous retailer like Mydin) to shop souvenirs. Later we continue to Sentosa Island by Cable Car. Sentosa is one of my favorite top spot, last year we spent 3 whole days but still I missed Underwaterworld and Song of Sea, so this time I just gonna through this both.

Cable Car 1 way ticket $24.

From cable car to Underwaterworld

-By bus: Free shuttle Blue & Red line

-By Monorail: from Vivo station - Beach station, from beach station take tram-Blue line 

huge king crab, it can grow to 7-8 square feet!

Underwaterworld entrance fees $25.90

Open daily 9am to 9pm – last admission 8.30pm

Dolphin show: 2.30pm & 5.00pm

Going back to Beach station to catch up song of sea show at 8.00pm. It's a mesmerizing show with live cast and effects like water jets, lasers, special computer imaging, flaming burst and captivating music. Ticket price only $10. You can get $3 off for Segway drive if showing song of the sea ticket after 6.30pm.

Recommend in Sentosa - Siloso Beach is the best. You can rent a bike to island explorer, skyline luge, the flying trapeze and try to surf at wave house or leisure riding a segway.  If you plan to play at Sentosa better buy their pass Day pass ($63.90) or Noon pass ($37.90) but for the whole day better buy the Premium pass ($65.90) it’s more savings. Others attraction is 4D Magix, tiger sky tower, cineblast and don’t forget to try desperados games. 

Finally i can finish this post *proud self*

Horas Medan - Day 3

From here Day 2

It's third day, we going back to Medan.

We staying at Istana Maimun area, so many choices of hotel and guesthouse here and plus it's nearby the airport. We pick guesthouse for Rp100,000 per night. Early in the morning we searching for Post Office to post a postcard, it's quit far from our hotel so we decided to take Beca for Rp10,000, the price you can bargain from the driver but if you paying more than Rp15,000-the price is consider expensive. So try to bargain, you will get the fare is as low as Rp5,000.

From inside the Beca

Post Office - Stamp will cost Rp8,000 to Malaysia

From post office we just walking-touring around the city, what catch my eyes is there always be a big board bloom with flowers that purposely for greeting on special occasion like wedding, convocation etcs.  

Colorful ~ So colorful

We spotted a temple resemble like Kinkaku-ji Castle-Japan but we cannot go inside because the building currently in renovation. Too bad!

From there we taking Beca to Jalan Mojopahit to buy infamous layer cake and bika ambon. The famous brand is Zulaikha, price is differ by size and flavor. It's so delicious and come with convenient box.

List price:

Bika Ambon Original - Rp38,000

Bika Ambon Flavor - Rp40,000

Bika Ambon Up-flavor(blueberry, cheese) - Rp45,000 to 48,000

Layer cake (small) Original - Rp33,000

Layer cake(small) Flavor- Rp38,000

Brownies - Rp30,000

We had lunch and going straight to Istana Maimun. Entrance fee is Rp8,000. There is absolutely nothing much you can do here, no board information, no introduction and even you pay for entrance fees the castle is totally not improper maintenance and dirty. Display items also is limited, only paintings and ancient sofas. 

That's the ending of my Medan tour, at night we have dinner at Kg. Baru and meet new friends. The next day we going out early as 5.00am because my friend's flight at 6.30am while mine at 8.00am. But ended up my flight delay-she already heavenly in KL while I have stayed until 5.30pm and arrived KL at 9.00pm. How unlucky I am?  

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Communication in Indonesia it should be no problem if you can speak Malay because it's not much differ between Indo language and Malaysia language but still there is different in certain terms. This is what i thought useful to remember:

Dictionary:

Horas - Welcome

Dingin - Cold

Mencet - Jammed

Mobil - Car

Mogok - Actually a noun e.g: car broken down - mobil mogok   

Speda - Motorbike

Manis Dingin - Iced Tea

Senduk - Fork & Spoon

Pulsa - Top-up credit
Karto Post - Postcard
Titipan - Souvenior

So many other words but this is the only i can remember.

Hotel Mezra, Balige

In day 1, we staying at budget Hotel Mezra located at Balige town cheap rate at Rp150,000 (Rm50) per night but the room is satisfiable. Location is very convenient - beside the hotel is mini shop like 7-eleven & internet cafe. What the best about that net-cafe is that you can use it for free if you only want to browsing. But if you planning on internet surfing that will only cost Rp2,000 (Rm0.70) per hour. Printing is Rp1,000 each. During nightime so many food stall will open opposite the hotel, delicious and cheap too.  

I forgot to take picture of the room, but the room come with basic features with attached toilet and water heater. Also they serve bed to breakfast, send away straight to your door-how good is that? it's only simple breakfast like bread and butter, half-boiled egg and very nice tea but still make full enough.

What the best about staying in Toba is the water is very clean even the plain water taste so good maybe because the water source from the lake make the water quality in Toba is very excellent.

Horas Medan - Day 2

From here - Day 1

Day 2 - A fresh morning start.

Every morning this area gonna have a morning market sell fresh vegetables, fruits and local handmade. I buy 2kg of SnakeSkin Fruit or Buah Salak for Rp8000(RM2.80) /kg, very cheap! Very fresh even i can eat buah salak like i'm eating apple. Actually this is first time i'm eating buah salak and never regret that i did. 

Balige in the morning

Public transport in Medan is Trishaw (Beca), Angkutan and conventional cab. But different area the Beca is differ, like in Balige the the Beca is running by Vespa scooter and can only fit to single passenger. While in Medan town Beca is running by motorbike and can fit to 2 passenger.

Vespa Beca in Balige

Bike Beca in Medan City

After done sightseeing we going to The King tomb and Batak museum. No entrance fee for the king tomb but you will be charge Rp10,000 (local) and Rp50,000 (foreigners) for Batak museum.

The King Tomb

We continue to Samosir Island by ferry, but locals refer it as boat (i think it's too big to be call a boat). Fare Rp5,000 per person. They got many pit-stop, and for that day we just going to Tomok Island (shopping souvenior) and Tuk-Tuk Island.  

Jetty to Samosir Island.

Horas Medan - Day 1 (Part 2)

From here Part 1

We stopped at Porsea and have a lunch there. For muslim it's kinda hard to find halal food here but you have to be guided because here only got one or two restaurant that only serve halal food.

Definitely NO menus for muslim:
B1 - Roasted Dog
B2 - Roasted Pig
B3 - Roasted Sow Pig
If you see this B1, B2 & B3 in menu it's definitely non-halal.

Rumah Makan Lamhot, landmark - near the lake and steel bridge.

The cooking almost the same with Malay cuisine not much differ, only they serve more fishes, but warning all cookery is very damn hot! the chili or in local it's called Cabai really sting and will make you tears.

On the bottom right-side-yellow square is Kikil, which is actually a buffalo skin cooked with curry sauce. Dunno what it's taste like, i don't eat it.

After lunch, again for hours journey we took off to Bukit Dolok Tolong, Balige. We hiking (by car lol) and reach the top. Dolok Tolong is like private place which not anyone can enter the top, so it's lucky for us but too bad it's almost raining and the sky getting dark.

Any idea the sign mean?

After that we drop by at near local village.

 
And lastly we hang-out at this very beautiful and magnificent place until sunset.Very relaxing and cool spot, i can seat for hours even a day here, why Malaysia did not have a beautiful place like this?

Then we continue to Balige town and check-in Hotel Mezra for a night stay.
Day 2 

Horas Medan - Day 1 (Part 1)

Since my photos for Singapore trip is unable to locate right now (+__+' ) so i'm gonna update my Medan trip first. This trip is kind a special to me because this is first time i'm traveling with strangers and first time i'm traveling lesser than a week. Very short trip: 4D 3N and totally a last minute decision.

Why it has to be Medan?

I've been to part of Java, Indonesia (i.e: Bali, Bandung and Jakarta) but none for Sumatra Indonesia. Medan is the largest city and is the capital of the province of North Sumatra with populations 2,109,330 (approx), common race is Batak and main religious is Christian. The most attraction is Danau Toba and Medan city itself.

It's took 45mins getting Medan from KL, my flight is early 7.40am and arrived Medan by 7.35am this is because Medan is early by an hour compare to Malaysian timezone. Upon arrival we meet Pak Supir (Guide)-Ridu, a very nice guy, then we straight away ahead to Parapat, Danau Toba, it's take almost 6hours to get there. Because of the non-developed road condition in Medan it's more time consuming on the road to get each destination places. Average traveling time to most places is about 3-7hours!.   

Danau Toba Area

Lake Toba is very huge 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide (the largest lake in Indonesia and the largest volcanic lake in world). Lake Toba came from Toba volcano eruption from 75,000SM ago damages and changes Ice Age at that time. After the eruption the volcano gone and became the lake. Circling the lake are villages and in the middle of the lake is Samosir island is what to be believe used to be the top of Toba. 

Signature roof - represent Batak

What a magnificence view you can see here in Toba, a fresh air and even the sky is very blue. Mostly villagers here still living with rural countryside - bathing and washing using water source from the lake, even walking barefoot and the houses is still keep in traditional. 

   
Part 2 : Dolok Tolong HERE

I love Kuala Lumpur!

Just comeback from Medan, Indonesia - FINALLY. I never felt so eagerly to touchdown my feet in Kuala Lumpur, since yesterday. This is because my morning flight is delayed for.........wait for it.......9hours!! Supposed my flight depart at 8.00am instead I take-off at 6.00pm, how tiring is that (+___+!)

Being stuck in delay flight is sucks but being stuck in delay flight with Air Asia and alone is totally multiple f***** sucks. There is no words that i can describe my 9hours momento @Polonia airport. I know this is consequence for paying less but sometimes i really had it enough with this Air Asia.

Tagliatelle al nero di seppia

I suppose to finish my Singapore trip post but i kinda lost of idea to write about that, so i decide to post about my lunch instead for what i think is the most darkest food I've ever eat in my whole life. Probably you ever heard about the famous Italian squid ink pasta or in Italian it's called Tagliatelle al nero di seppia. Well yesterday i have lunch at Ristorante Italiano - Capricciosa the main signature is pasta & pizza and the founder of the restaurant is from Japan. I decided to try the squid ink pasta, this is not my first experience with black squid ink, before this i have Okonomiyaki-squid ink at Japanese restaurant it's just the Okonomiyaki i ate is not black as the spagetti in my lunch. 

 Calamari and Onions in Squid Ink Sauce. What do you think?

"Any type of pasta that has been enhanced with the chemical substance extracted from the ocean squid so it becomes very black in color. Squid ink, which is also available from the Cuddlefish (related to the Squid family), is added to the water and dough as pasta is made, creating very black colored pasta. This ink provides a salty and somewhat sweet flavor as an ingredient and coloring to the pasta. Ribbons of pasta, such as Squid Ink Tagliatelle, are produced that are single pieces of black pasta. Another version of Squid Ink pasta is dual colored pasta (due colori) that is produced by combining a ball of black colored pasta with a ball of natural or white colored pasta."

It's not bad as it's look, the smell it's a bit funny but the taste is surprisingly delicious! totally recommended for those who like to try for something new. But be careful, after you eating the whole lips and teeth will coloring to black too and make sure to check your mouth with your friends or at least spot a mirror before leaving the restaurant. 

Apart from the black spaghetti, others we also ordered for Quattro Formaggi. I don't like it much it's just a pizza whole covered only with 4 kinds of cheese. And for dessert we have Frittelle delicious vanilla ice cream with cinnamon, strawberries and pastry puffs. Anacolica or drinks have chioces from Italian Sodas or Hot drink caffe. The price is reasonable, pleasant find dining and the service is good. 

Singapore ~ Day 2

From HERE

Day Two...

Opposite hotel is a shop building - bank, gym, restaurants, another budget hotel, maxis center and money changer. But since we going out too early it's difficult to find place for breakfast, mostly the shops is still not open yet. Also i cannot change the money since the money changer will opening late at 12noon but our bus schedule at 10.30, lucky my friend have spare dollars but then the driver bus told us inside the USS also got money changer so it's a relief.

It's took almost 3hrs to Sentosa (depends on the traffic) through 2 times immigration one for Johor immigration and another for S'pore immigration. For Malaysian passport holder the process is easier, just slot in your passport onto the machine, thumb your print and when the machine read - you're done! it's so easy while at S'pore immigration as usual line up at the counter and drop your passport together with immigration card for stamp.Bus will park exactly @USS, take the escalator just until you see the main gate and here we go-- welcome to Universal Studio! This is the play map, or for more clearer map you can browse the official site http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/MapsUSS

I'm going by clock-wise,

Entrance is Hollywood street.

Everything resemble the Hollywood and also right and left is souvenir shop but I save it for last - going play is my first priority. Because i'm going at the peak-school holiday lots of mascot appear like The Blue mascot bird, Charlie Chaplin, Cleopatra, The Joker, Shrek, Kungfu Panda Bear and my favorite of course Marlyn Monroe! even though she only a character but people make a crowd and chasing her on street plus she is safeguarded with 8 bodyguard! she is really popular like Marlyn herself lol

Next stop: Madagascar. 

I love the Crate Adventure, riding a boat and the effect is so fun plus i love Madagascar character! it's so cute.

Next stop: Far Far Away

Who's never heard of Far Far Away kingdom? definitely one of my fav attraction. First we take the Enchanted Airways - it's junior roller coaster then we go for Shrek 4D and i think i fall in love in 4D!! it's story-play that you being seated in cinema, not only viewing it but you can feel it too! that is so cool. Too bad i missed Donkey Live because at that time we have to wait for the next play at2pm so we decide to go for another attraction.

Next stop: Lost World

One thing i hate about USS in Singapore the que is killing me!! seriously for Canopy Flyer i have to que an hour, that was crazy. You have option not to que just buy the express pass, but i love my money not gonna waste when you can have it for free duh lol.

You can see how long the que is!!

Next stop: Underwaterworld

It's a show in exactly Underwaterworld world. Blue seat you will get wet or maybe soak in water, Green seat maybe so-so will get wet and Yellow you're in safe zone. I have to seat in Blue zone coz when i'm arrived the safe seat already full. You might scared about getting wet but trust me getting wet/soak in water is so fun, because the actor is so spontaneous and funny, plus i'm dry up so fast because the weather is so hot at that time.

Next stop: Ancient Egypt

Fell like i'm Mummy world- the set exactly cool, all huge mummies standing huge-tall. I love Revenge of the Mummy - high speed roller coaster in the dark with reverse effect and scary voice, it's fun! just before you enter no bag is allowed, you can place your beg at the accommodate locker and it's free for the first2hr and you will be charged if exceeded 2hrs but i don't remember how much it will cost. 

DO NOT enter Treasure Hunters if you not a kid or exactly not kid-minded because it's just a small train go around with lousy fake effect - totally wasting my time!

Shrek castle "Far Far Away" from Egypt City

Next stop: Sci-Fi City

What fun here, of course roller coaster!! two hatic coaster Human (Red) and Cyclon (Blue) dunno cobra roll or zero-gravity roll but thanks to it i'm totally being up-side-down-right-lef and i think i'm screaming for very long enough until my voice only half come-out, and i'm willing to ride Human & Cycoln for second time. Must try for roller coaster lovers.

Next stop: New York

Photo time! i'm taking picture for every possible props here and Oh! don't forget Light! Camera! Action! hosted by Steven Spielberg, impressive effect reveled on how Spielberg use it in his film.

Final stop will be the Hollywood street again. It's time to walk-in to souvenir shop, i only shop for the on top of my list i.e T-shirt and key-chain.

Souvenir for my parents: Postcard and fridge magnet. 

Souvenir for my friends: None haha sorry guys >_<

Well this is the list price items that i scout:

Poscard: Buy 5 free 1 $2

Fridge magnet: Rubber $4.90 / Medal $5.90

Bird Mascot: $9.90

Key chain: from $3.90 to $8.90

T-shirt: Average $25 to $35

Cap: Average $20 - $30

Mug: $13 or more?

And

Oscar award replica @opposite Hollywood shop: $28 whut??

After done shopping we say good bye to all fun entertainment, just opposite the main gate is Sentosa shopping, drop by at Hard Rock Cafe, Candylicous and Colourful Merlin. We take 10.30pm bus going back to JB and arrived almost midnight.

Next:Singapore Sight Seeing!