On National Day, we decided that we would spend some time outside. We didn't really know where to go but since we were in CCK area visiting a friend, I suggested going to some of the farms nearby.
We haven't been to Farmart Centre before but we have heard of it. For us, we are only interested in the Mini Animal Corner, just to let Irfan see some animals. It's great that they are open on Public Holidays as well, from 9am - 6.30pm.
A big entrance welcomed us. We saw that the eatery was quite happening with some singing by some aunties and uncles. Haha.
We headed down the steps and walked to a path at the end which leads to the Animal Corner.
We didn't expect it but the Animal Corner really had quite a number of cages of animals, from rabbits to guinea pigs, fish, frogs, birds and 2 mountain goats! Hahah the goats were the main stars of the show because they are very cute and friendly.
We purchased $5 worth of animal food : some leafy veggie, carrots, sunflower seeds and pellet food.
Irfan fed the goats and seem confused. Why these animals taking my veggie and carrots?? (Cos usually we are the ones feeding him, he hasn't learn to offer us food yet)
Anyway, in the end it seems that I am enjoying the trip much more than my baby hahaha. i loveeeee the goats and birds especially. there is a grey parrot (googled : Congo Grey Parrot / African Grey Parrot) who said hello and bye bye to me! Of course he deserved extra sunflower seeds from me <3
Watch the video on my YouTube:
Overall, we didn't expect to have that much fun as it was unplanned. But we're really glad that we did explore the Lim Chu Kang area (we also drove around to some plant nurseries). LOVE TO BE AWAY FROM THE BUSY CITY LIFE DEFINITELY.
Hi everyone! It's another Exploration post - we will share a place which requires you to get up on your feet and jump right in into an adventure :D
This time round, we're bringing you to Jurong River. Located in between Singapore Straits and Jurong Lake Park, the Jurong River can also be seen from AYE.
The star indicates the 'entrance' from which we entered from.
Walking to the entrance is not a hassle from my home in Teban Gardens, so it will be as easy if you're here in the neighbourhood.
The entrance
With my family, so excited!
Be prepared to walk through some tall grass and soft, muddy ground.
The path was better maintained than I last remembered.
Do remember to use your CALAMINE LOTION if you're worried about mosquitoes.
My auntie and cousins were already there when we reached and they have set up a fire to chase off the mosquitoes away + to cook whatever catch we managed to get.
Setting up the fire
When we reached at around 2.30pm,it was high tide so we couldn't go further in to dig for clams. You can always check out the high/low tide timings HERE.
The tide information for that day. H indicates High Tide and L indicates Low Tide.
High Tide - Suitable for fly-fishing or netting.
My mum and brother tried their hand at netting. Me too actually, but I was totally noob about it. lol
The surprising thing was that my cousins found some oysters. These shellfish can be found clinging to rocks and you can pry them off slowly. The important thing is to watch out for those barnacles (!!) those things are horrible and they can easily cut your hands.
Of course these are not the best grade of oysters and the only way I would suggest to eat them is by really making sure they are fully cooked. I managed to find one oyster of my own and it was the smallest! (Bottom right pic)
Shucking and cooking the oysters.
Playing in the water
After a few hours, we could see that the tide was slowly going back down. We managed to find some clams which most we cooked straight and ate over there. :D
Lol. My mum posing, this is possible during low tide.
Low tide: Best for digging for clams, finding oysters and netting. My sister found the biggest clam!
These clams are also known as lala and they have a slight sweet taste.
The yellow canoe is good for resting.
Also, as written on the tree: Please Keep This Area Clean :)
It was close to 6pm so we made our way back home. Us siblings would have loved to stay longer as we started to find more clams since the tide was getting lower. The netting didn't go so well so it probably would be better in low tide as well.
The journey back home was as beautiful (From top left clockwise: Flowers creeping on fences, Containers and machineries on both sides, Spot the bird!, Going back where we came from)
Into the dustbin they go.
Also, my jogging shoes were totally gone by the time I reached home! Okay these were quite old (at least 5 years old) so there wasn't any hard feelings for me to part with them. Also, do wear old clothings which you wouldn't mind getting a bit dirty.
One last wefie before we head back home
It was really a fun and fruitful experience and great for family bonding. My parents have already started planning on their next visit and I would also love to go again when it is low tide.
Hope you liked this post. Thank you to my family, my auntie and cousins for being there. Wouldn;t be possible without you all! :)
Time to charge up and spend time with our loved ones and family.
We have just uploaded a video of our Attap Valley Bunker tour which was organised by the National Heritage Board of Singapore. Do check it out on Youtube using the link below:
Video snippet from our Attap Valley Bunker Tour.
You can read up on our PREVIOUS POST to find out more.
We've been really busy for the past so many weeks due to work commitments and personal stuffs. So we're here once again, updating on our exciting trip which happened on 21st March 2015. We know, it has been quite awhile but hey, we'll never fail to share awesome cheap dates in Singapore. And yes, for this post, this date you and your partner can enjoy for free.
Anyone can enjoy this excursion trip by signing up at the National Heritage Board's website. There are lots of trips available and most of them are free. For this instance, we chose the Attap Valley Bunker which is situated at Attap Valley Road. It's near the Woodlands Fishery Port as seen in the map below.
Situated at Attap Valley Road, near the Woodlands Fishery Port
There was a few time slots available for the trip. Gathering point was at Admiralty MRT station and we were greeted by this little sign board. Of course, there are other enthusiast explorers like us but somehow, we are the 'semangat' couple whom are well equip with cameras and all.
The bus entered a rural location of which the area was locked by a very big gate. Once the gate opened, there were volunteers who greeted us with rubber boots. Yes, the route that we will walk will not only be muddy but also creepy too.
Place in enclosed and blocked by a big old gate. Today we're allowed to 'trespass' :D
It was a lovely sunny Saturday - perfect weather for exploring!
Our tour guides for the day were awaiting us with a row of big black boots.
SUIT UP!
And that's why we need to wear boots.
Rest assured about safety. Ambulance are there to assist if there are emergencies. We were glad this excursion trip was well planned by the NHB.
Some random shots we took along the way
The tour was guided by a volunteer whom not only know the history of this bunker but very knowledgeable about Singapore. Stories from the late British Colony to the World War 2 was shared by the guide to how the bunker was built and what was its purpose.
History and safety briefing by our tour guide.
It was about 500metres walk to the site and we were greeted by this metal door. It was half opened and we were advised not to touch or hold the door as it was hanging by the hinge. Nonetheless, the bunker entrance has somehow kept its shape and integrity without any vandalism.
As we enter the Gate, we were greeted by a snail-like tunnel. The pathway was muddy and architecture is unique. The reason it was build this way was to eliminate shocks from bombs from damaging the bunker.
The walkway. We're lucky boots were provided.
It was really dark and we only had our torchlights and camera flashes to rely on.
Once we entered the pathway, this was the end of our journey. A really big, huge storage facility. It was said that during the war, soldiers kept their ammunition and took cover over bombs happening outside.
Size wise? The volunteer said hmm.. Equivalent to the size of 25 5-room HDB houses. We guess this place is even bigger than that.
I bet in this kind of environment, it will be very hot. The bunker is actually a hole drilled into a hill (it's not underground). There is a ventilation system in the bunker to keep the soldiers cool, plus it draws in fresh air from outside. Simple but yet very innovative during the 1930s.
The ventilation system looks like something out of a silent hill game.
If you can zoom on the ceiling support, that's actually a crane. Heavy machineries and ammunition are carried by this devices.
The ceiling
Its time to leave and we had to walk through the muddy pathway again.
Last but not least, a selfie with the tour guide who has taught us the history of the bunker and kept us safe in the dark bunker.
Thank you so much to the tour guides and National Heritage Board for having us.
A rider will always be a rider. That's the phrase of what a rider will tell anyone who doesn't own a bike. And what does a rider do when you have a road and a bike? Exploring, and of course ride to its fullest.
On the 27th Dec 2014. @Redzstarkiss and I joined a fellow group, SGSuperRiders on a tour to Malacca.
It would be our 2nd trip up north on a bike in Malaysia. Malaysia being a country full of flora and fauna is the best place to go as they cater to alot of beautiful sceneries from mountains to tropical forest.
Since the date catered to both our off day, its a great opportunity for us not only to enjoy the trip but also to meet new friends from different backgrounds but sharing the same passion.
Our starting point
We started the journey after 'B Point' which is right after Shell. As you can see, those enthusiastic riders are with high spirits despite their bike being small. Size doesn't matter in this group as we all have a similar goal in mind. To enjoy and also to experience touring.
We were armed by my Majestic BMW F700GS which is a 800cc twin cylinder engine. Not only it is a off-road bike but its also a touring bike. Fully geared up with our full-faced helmets and communication devices, we'll not be bored throughout the trip.
It took us more than 2 1/2 hours to reach the above destination due to pit stops and our riding speed. We're comfortable with it as I'm not a speedster myself.
The waiting time at their traffic lights can be up to 3 minutes
Malacca is a city full of history. The only problem they have would be the awesome traffic jams that took us a hefty time to reach our destination. Once we've reached our pit-stop, opening our helmets was sure an awesome feeling. The feeling of achievement!
Everyone was given a shirt and we customised our names on it. Unique huh!
Lunch at A&W
Time was a constraint as it was only a day event. Spending 2 hours in Malacca wasn't enough for us to explore and do a review of a cafe we had planned to visit. But it's ok. A&W for lunch is a must as this restaurant was long extinct in Singapore.
We did utilised that 2 hours by exploring around. Snapping photos as we are actually tourists.
Rain!
The journey back home was a killer. Well, as a rider myself, I always try to avoid riding in the rain. But sadly, we do not have a choice. It was pouring rain all the way back to Singapore. It took us 6 hours back due to the slow traffic, pitch dark highway and torturous rain. It was an experience for me as not only it was cold, I had to utilise my concentration fully on the road. Plus keeping my pillion awake at all times too :)
The group
To SGSuperRiders, thank you. It was an experience riding in a big group. To the Marshals, you guys kept us safe throughout the journey. And, if there are any upcoming events, do keep us updated as we are "Up for Anything".
To our readers, there is a saying. Achieve as much as we can while we're young. As we age and gets older, it would be tough but it is still possible.
To my fiancé Redzstarkiss, thank you for being the best awesome pillion rider. Part of my dream of going touring with you once again is achieved.
