Friday 20 November 2015

SINGAPORE / JOHOR BAHRU TRIP

Hello Hello!

Got back from our trip last Sunday and I think I better update my blog before my laziness attacks me again.
As you can see from the title, we went to Singapore and Johor Bahru for a 5D4N trip.
The currency rate for mine was SGD1 for RM2.91 (August) while my friend one was SGD1 for RM3.03 (November).
Crazy rates! Malaysia oh Malaysia.

By the way, this will be a long post as I have compiled everything in just one post. 
Let’s begin!

Day 1 – KOTA KINABALU TO SINGAPORE
Expected to have reach Changi Airport – Terminal 1 around 5pm but our flight reached slightly earlier, which is good.
In order to get to the city, we took the MRT located at Changi Airport – Terminal 2.
In case you’re worry that you will be lost, there are signboards everywhere so no worries about that.
There is this EZ link card in Singapore for the MRT ride but we borrowed it from our friend so we don’t have to get one.

We’re staying in The Southbridge Hotel located in Chinatown.

To get to Chinatown:
1.       Board the train towards Tanah Merah Station and alight at Tanah Merah Station
2.       Board the train towards Joo Koon Station and alight at Bugis Station
3.       Board the train towards Chinatown Station and alight at Chinatown Station

Exit A towards Pagoda Street and you will be Chinatown market.
Totally lost when we were at Chinatown market, luckily there’s free wifi in that area so we managed to locate our hotel easily.
Free Wi-Fi

Direction to The Southbridge Hotel :
Just walk straight when you come out from Exit A and when you see this big Chinatown signboard, turn left and walk straight again, you will soon see The Southbridge hotel right in front of you.
Chinatown Signboard

After checked in the hotel, we proceed to Chinatown market to look for food and saw this Chinatown Food Street.
The foods are all expensive for us due to the currency conversion.
There are so many foods that we wanted to try but let's just make the trip a budget one, so we chose the cheapest food to eat instead.
 Chinatown Food Street
 The stall we chose
Roasted Pork Rice - SGD5

Next, we proceed to Gardens by the Bay.
Took the MRT to Bayfront Station and Exit B.
Didn’t want to be late for the show so we took the shuttle train that will directly bring us to the main destination.
First show was OCBC Garden Rhapsody located at Supertree Groove, there are having two shows per day at 7.45pm and 8.45pm.
We waited for the 8.45pm show and it takes about 15 minutes.
Rushed back to the shuttle train station for the final train at 9pm to catch another show in Marina Bay Sands.
 Shuttle train
OCBC Garden Rhapsody

I’m not sure if there’s any shortcut to Marina Bay Sands from Gardens by the Bay because I don’t want to take the risk of getting lost in nowhere.
So we walked back to the MRT station and follow the signboards that will lead us to Marina Bay Sands.
When we arrived at The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands, got blurred and asked the information centre the exact location and it’s just behind another door inside the mall. Phew.
By the way, the second show called Wonder Full.
The one we watched was at 9.30pm.
You can check online for another time to arrange your own preferable itinerary.
The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands
Wonder Full

After the show, we went back to our hotel bar for a drink.
The hotel gave us two welcome drinks voucher where you can claim it from the hotel bar for free.
Not into this strong alcohol mood that night so I ordered Singapore Sling Cocktail and it was so good.
Another good thing about the hotel is they provide free coffee and tea all day long for the hotel guest. Too bad we’re not a fan for both.

(P/S : One thing that I dislike about the hotel is whenever you shower, the toilet tends to flood a little as the water runs down really really slow and its kinda gross.)

Day 2 – SINGAPORE
Woke up around 8.30am and get ready immediately because we’re going to Universal Studio Singapore!
I get excited whenever we’re going to a theme park, what more I’ve been waiting for this since like forever.

To go Universal Studio Singapore :
1.       Take MRT to Harbour Front Station (Purple line)
2.       Find Door exit to VivoCity
3.       Follow signboard inside VivoCity for Sentosa Express located at 3rd Floor
4.       Take Sentosa Express to Waterfront Station

We first headed to Subway for breakfast in VivoCity.
Bought our ticket from our friend for SGD54 per person before we went to Singapore. Otherwise, we have to purchase it online for SGD66 or SGD74 from the ticket counter.

 The Ticket
Sentosa Station 

Took almost 30 minutes getting a good spot to capture with the Universal globe before entering the theme park.
I’m so happy when I finally get to see Universal. It’s just amazing.
Transformer was our first ride, don’t get cheated by the queue outside as there’s a long way to go inside.
If I’m not mistaken we queue about 50 minutes before the ride.
Second ride was the Treasure Hunters, the ride was very disappointing though.
Went for almost all the rides except for few very kiddy rides such as Mary-Go-Round. Hahaha.

Another one which is quite annoying is the Donkey ‘live’ show, queue for 20 minutes to watch a no-meaning show.
Can you see that look kinda extreme roller coaster?
We wanted to try the ‘Human’ (red track) because the track doesn’t seem to be that scary.
Too bad it was closed that day. L
Tried the ‘Cylon’ (blue track) instead.

Believe it or not, it’s my first roller coaster ride in life unless you wanna count in the not-so extreme one...
Went to few theme park before this but I’m just too chicken to try because every time I went, I tend to try on the extreme one first and then I got scared for the rest of the day.
This time, I challenge myself despite the uneasy feelings I have.

Ok, guessed I’m not gonna go anymore details about all the rides I went.
If you wanna try the extreme one, you might wanna try Battlestar Galactica ‘Cylon’ and Revenge of the Mummy.
The less extreme one is Transformer, Puss in Boots, Enchanted Airways & Canopy Flyer.
You can also try the Jurassic Park Rapid Adventures, your chances of getting soaked is 50/50.
I got quite wet but it dried up very quickly for my case.
That’s all for Universal.


 
That slow jeep
 Hotdog Bun for SGD11
 Live water show


After that, we went to Bugis Street by MRT to Bugis Station and Exit C towards Victoria Street.
Bugis Street is just opposite the road.
Bought some souvenirs here, walked around the nearby mall, had mcd for dinner and went back to rest.

Day 3 – SINGAPORE TO JOHOR BAHRU
Leaving Singapore to Johor Bahru on this day.
But before leaving, must take photo with the Merlion first to show that we’ve been here.
That’s what others said.
It’s quite complicated to go to Merlion Park mentioned in the website but after trying on my own, it’s actually kinda easy to find.

Direction to Merlion Park:
Take MRT to Raffles Place Station where you will need to interchange at Outram Station. Exit Door G when you’re at Raffles Place Station towards UOB Plaza 2. You will see the river after the exit. Walk along the side of the river with Fullerton Hotel on your right until you see a highway. When you see the highway, eventually you will see there are many tourists opposite the road. That’s where you’re heading. After crossing the highway, continue walking after you walk down the stairs. Ta-da! The Merlion is there waiting for you.
After photo-taking session with the Merlion, we went back to our hotel for brunch since they are having 50% off for their foods and it’s time to check out. Off to Johor Bahru we go!

We’re going to take the bus to JB Sentral so we took MRT to Kranji Station first then from there, hop on a bus to JB Sentral.

Direction to Kranji Station:
From Chinatown Station, interchange at Outram Station, then interchange again at Jurong East Station, lastly alight at Kranji Station. It’s a long way to go.

I was blurred when we were at Kranji Station.
I just know that we have to take the yellow bus (CW1/ CW2).
Since they are people waiting so we wait along with them hoping we were right.
There came the yellow bus, I thought we can pay by using the EZ-link card but I was wrong.
It’s so embarrassing eh.

Coin is needed instead to put in the coin box but we don’t have any.
Then I saw there’s a small booth for coin exchange down the bus.
Told the bus driver we’re heading to Larkin Terminal.
However, JB Sentral should be the correct path for us NOT Larkin Terminal.
Not sure if JB Sentral will be the same price as Larkin Terminal though.
So I dropped SGD4 into the coin box for both person but actually only SGD2 is needed.
(No refund given for my mistake!)
How stupid I can be?

The bus drop us off at Woodlands Singapore for custom checking then from there hop on the bus again.
We were lost in Woodlands so our bus went off and we waited for another bus to come.
(P/S: No more paying extra as long as you have your previous ticket with you)

After hopping another bus in Woodlands, the bus then drop us off again at Malaysia CIQ.
We were both very surprised that we are already at Johor Bahru.
Malaysia CIQ is also considered as JB Sentral, we just follow the signboard to JB Sentral after custom checking.
At JB Sentral, while looking for a cab to our hotel, one guy came and offered a cab for RM25.
We thought the distance might be far so we agreed but it’s such a short distance which we could get for only RM10.
Moreover, he’s a illegal taxi driver so beware as they will charge you double price. 

Nothing much to do in Johor, our trip was to focus mainly on shopping. 
At first we wanted to go to Legoland but others told us it’s not worth to go as USS is much more better than Legoland so we didn’t.
We checked in Bliss Boutique Hotel before 2pm and told the hotel receptionist that we wanted to go Johor Premium Outlet.
So they help us to book the cab at 3pm and off we go.
The taxi driver told us to avoid any ‘blue’ cab if possible as it’s meant to charge double for every ride. Took the ‘red’ cab to and fro for RM45 and RM50.
We were considered lucky because ‘red’ cab can hardly be seen in Johor Premium Outlet.
Day 4 – JOHOR BAHRU
We wanted to walk to KSL mall since it’s only 900m away from the hotel as shown in Agoda website but the hotel receptionist not recommend us to walk as it will dangerous, so we took the cab from our hotel to KSL mall for RM6.
I bought nothing in KSL mall which is very disappointing.

After that, we took the cab to Sutera Mall for RM24.
I was hoping I can get the ripped jeans I wanted here but they don’t have it in any of the boutique store.
Leaving Sutera Mall with disappointment again.

We then took the cab to City Square after Sutera Mall for RM42. (Only ‘blue’ cab available that time).
Ended up buying myself a collar tee only from City Square.
We were already exhausted although it was only 7pm that time, so we bought some bread for dinner since we were full at that time and took the cab back for RM10.

Day 5 – JOHOR BAHRU TO KOTA KINABALU
It’s time to go home.
Times flies whenever you are enjoying your holidays although I dislike Johor Bahru but at least I get to enjoyed in USS.
We took the cab to Senai Airport for RM69 and home sweet home at 5pm.


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