This is a quick post about our few days in New Zealand.
I will do a big description with photos once we get back to Singapore.
We've been to the Coromandel Peninsula, the Hot Water Beach, eaten pumpkin, scraped a car in Red Beach, stayed at Owera, saw an enormous Kauri tree and a 45 cm Weta (look it up in Wikipedia).
Walked on beaches, through forests and around the Waitangi Treaty grounds.
We went to hot springs and ended smelling of sulphur, and to a Maori village for a traditional meal.
We've driven more than 2000 kms, seen Mordor and Mount Doom, and are going to the South Island tomorrow.
New Zealand is STUNNING! The most spectacular scenery I have ever seen - more mountains than you can shake a stick at!
Sorry it's all so short this time.
Look after yourselves
Richard & Jo-Ann
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Back in Singapore
15th April 2008
We have managed to avoid Orchard Road till now but I needed a hair cut and we both needed a massage. Connie, the masseur, was recommended by Celestina, an old colleague of mine from Cabletron. She is a tiny lady, but packed with lots of strength. Richard could show you all his bruises
16thApril 2008
Rest!!
We have managed to avoid Orchard Road till now but I needed a hair cut and we both needed a massage. Connie, the masseur, was recommended by Celestina, an old colleague of mine from Cabletron. She is a tiny lady, but packed with lots of strength. Richard could show you all his bruises
16thApril 2008
Rest!!
Trip to Penang 4
14th April 2008
Depart for Singapore in the morning. The journey was long, ten hours by bus. But it was comfortable. It took a long time for Richard to clear Singapore immigration. Then home to Woodlands at my brother’s place.
On the way down we passed a number of limestone karsts, huge limestone mountains just sticking out of the surrounding flat plains If you remember the islands in the James Bond film, “The Man With the Golden Gun” or the Leonardo De Caprio film, “The Beach” – that’s what they look like. The famous Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur are in a limestone karst.
Depart for Singapore in the morning. The journey was long, ten hours by bus. But it was comfortable. It took a long time for Richard to clear Singapore immigration. Then home to Woodlands at my brother’s place.
On the way down we passed a number of limestone karsts, huge limestone mountains just sticking out of the surrounding flat plains If you remember the islands in the James Bond film, “The Man With the Golden Gun” or the Leonardo De Caprio film, “The Beach” – that’s what they look like. The famous Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur are in a limestone karst.
Trip to Penang 3
13th April 2008
This morning, after breakfast of fruit, noodles, roti prata and tosa, we took the hotel shuttle into George Town.
We walked around “little India”
and saw a couple of temples – Kwan Yin temple.
This morning, after breakfast of fruit, noodles, roti prata and tosa, we took the hotel shuttle into George Town.
We walked around “little India”
and saw a couple of temples – Kwan Yin temple. 
Carried on walking past a church and old some abandoned buildings (begging to be developed), 
and caught a bicycle rickshaw back to the bus pickup at Traders Hotel. The rickshaw carried 2 of us and the driver was old and thin, it was a wonder he could pedal! I felt that Richard should be doing the pedaling.
In the evening we walked through lots of tacky stores (night market) selling fake Gucci, Rolex watches, DVD, etc… I looked at an automatic Omega Divemaster- for 75 pounds - it looked very fake.
We ended up in a seafood restaurant and had lovely meal of crab and tiger prawns. Not as good as the one last night, but it did have a culture show for tourists. The price was double of course.
and caught a bicycle rickshaw back to the bus pickup at Traders Hotel. The rickshaw carried 2 of us and the driver was old and thin, it was a wonder he could pedal! I felt that Richard should be doing the pedaling.In the evening we walked through lots of tacky stores (night market) selling fake Gucci, Rolex watches, DVD, etc… I looked at an automatic Omega Divemaster- for 75 pounds - it looked very fake.
We ended up in a seafood restaurant and had lovely meal of crab and tiger prawns. Not as good as the one last night, but it did have a culture show for tourists. The price was double of course.
Trip to Penang 2
12 April
We arrived at the Golden Sands Resort in Batu Ferrenghi on Palau Penang off the West coast of Malaysia.
The coach was quite something. The seats were very comfortable and had plenty of room and reclined a lot.
The air conditioning was turned up high and there was an annoying cold wind on both Jo-Ann and I all night. They gave us a thin towel to keep us warm but the cold still seeped through making it very difficult to sleep.
I watched Toy Story 2. The sound was not good and sometimes you could hear a baby crying and, once, the shadow of some one walking in front of the screen.
We crossed the bridge onto Penang and stopped at the bus station about 8 am and took a taxi to the hotel. The bus to Penang was SG $61 and taxi was MR 50.
Uplands School is being partially demolished for Gurney Paragon.
Back at the hotel, we finished off the evening with a cup of coffee while listening to a four piece band.
We arrived at the Golden Sands Resort in Batu Ferrenghi on Palau Penang off the West coast of Malaysia.The coach was quite something. The seats were very comfortable and had plenty of room and reclined a lot.
The air conditioning was turned up high and there was an annoying cold wind on both Jo-Ann and I all night. They gave us a thin towel to keep us warm but the cold still seeped through making it very difficult to sleep.
I watched Toy Story 2. The sound was not good and sometimes you could hear a baby crying and, once, the shadow of some one walking in front of the screen.
We crossed the bridge onto Penang and stopped at the bus station about 8 am and took a taxi to the hotel. The bus to Penang was SG $61 and taxi was MR 50.
The Golden Sands Resort in Batu Ferrengi
We stayed by the pool and had chicken wings and small samosas and spring rolls.
A short walk along the beach and took photos. There were jet skis, banana boats and parachute things towed behind boats. Oh and horses. Very few swimmers.
This was the same hotel I stayed in when Cabletron bought Digital (the network branch). I was invited to meet the Digital Management. At that time Richard and I were working in Tokyo.
This evening we took a taxi down to Gurney Drive. At the top of the road is a typical hawker centre with mainly local food (of course).
We walked down the road and found a seafood restaurant – The Bali Hai – Slogan “If its swims, we have it”. Boy did they have it!! Hugh groupers, mantis prawn, lobsters, all sorts of fish, crabs – all swimming in tanks. You choose what you want and they cook it how you like it. There were big sea slugs and cuttlefish.
We ate chili crab and plain steam prawns –so yummy. After the meal we walked back up Gurney Drive and went into the hawkers centre for Tau Huay – a soya bean pudding with brown sugar syrup.
The apartment block of Gurney Paragon, which we were interested in seeing, was still a waste land. We were expecting to see some development, but nothing unfortunately.
Gurney Paragon
Uplands School is being partially demolished for Gurney Paragon.Back at the hotel, we finished off the evening with a cup of coffee while listening to a four piece band.
Trip to Penang 1
11 April
Not quite the infamous Trip to Triangle” that Dad made so many years ago but tonight we are off to Penang by luxury Royal VIP coach from Grasslands Travel. We will arrive tomorrow morning and then take taxi to the hotel.
Not quite the infamous Trip to Triangle” that Dad made so many years ago but tonight we are off to Penang by luxury Royal VIP coach from Grasslands Travel. We will arrive tomorrow morning and then take taxi to the hotel.
Friday, 11 April 2008
Eating in Singapore 6 & Spa
Aramsa Spa
Yesterday, Thursday, afternoon Jo-Ann and I went to the Aramsa Spa in Ang Mo Kio not far from our flat. The spa is actually in Bishan Park, a public park I used to cycle in.
It sits in a tranquil park, amidst canopied tress, foliages and acres of greenies.
The spa boasts a garden theme that blends with its rich garden surroundings and has numerous open spaces, various garden themes as well as see through floor-to-ceiling glass panels.
It was very nice, we had a "couples" treatment, 30 minutes of a body scrub and then 60 minutes massage. Both of left feeling ready to sleep.
Yesterday, Thursday, afternoon Jo-Ann and I went to the Aramsa Spa in Ang Mo Kio not far from our flat. The spa is actually in Bishan Park, a public park I used to cycle in.
It sits in a tranquil park, amidst canopied tress, foliages and acres of greenies.
The spa boasts a garden theme that blends with its rich garden surroundings and has numerous open spaces, various garden themes as well as see through floor-to-ceiling glass panels.
It was very nice, we had a "couples" treatment, 30 minutes of a body scrub and then 60 minutes massage. Both of left feeling ready to sleep.
Last night we met up with with Celeste Ong, and old collegue of JoAnn's from Cabletron, and Mei.
We met at the Vivo City shopping centre right next to the World Trade Centre and the bridge to Sentosa Island. The shopping centre is huge and we only managed to walk around about half of it.
We went to a small Thai restaurant and had another great meal.
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