Today we're off to JB for a short trip and mini date.
Lately we have been busying ourselves with wedding preparations and what not. So we decided that today we should make time just for ourselves :)
The ride to Johor was enjoyable with lots of sunshine and wind. After braving usual crowd at the Woodlands Checkpoint, I told him that i feel like drinking something good.
Lots of parking space available if you are coming via car or bike
Therefore, he brought us to Chaiwalla & Co! I have always wanted to come here because he had been here a few times with his colleagues.
Malaysia's 1st Container Cafe.
The name Chaiwalla "is derived from a hindi word that means 'someone who prepares the tea'."
With the popping up of container cafes, this cafe is well-known even to those living in Singapore. They currently have 3 outlets: 2 in JB and one at The Curve, Damansara. The one we visited today is located in JB, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.
We have a choice from teas, coffees, milk teas, fresh milk and smoothies. He got himself the Thai Milk Tea (RM9.30) and I chose the Double Chocolate Milk Tea with Pearls (RM7.20) for myself.
I like how they show the information of their drinks. Looks like those nutritional info on food eh?
Should have aimed at the centre hole. LOL
They also have assorted pies (RM8.30) and brownies for us to fill our tummies with. Since they have run out of Chicken and Mushroom Pie, we tried their Black Pepper Beef instead.
Black Pepper Beef Pie (RM8.30)
Flaky and crispy pie crust :)
The meat and veggies in the pie was tender and the pie crust flaky, so it was simple yet fulfilling.
By the way, don't be surprised or disappointed if you only see a few tables. The waiters will be more than willing to set more tables for you.
We stayed till most of the have already customers left :D
Our bill totaled to RM24.80 and it was a relaxing date with each other. The short getaway and something different was really something we both needed :)
The good things in life are better with You <3
CHAIWALLA & CO.
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
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! :)
Cheap car rentals?
Only need a car for a few short specific hours for errands?
Fast & Easy registration?
Look no further!! This company Smove has the answer for you.
To why we prefer renting from Smove to other rental companies are:
Why need a car for 24hours? I need my beauty sleep -.-
Awesome millage. One tank can hit 700+km?
Spacious interior. I was surprised it is very roomy
Don't have to wash the car
Don't have to fuel the car
Keyless entry. Your Ez-link card (chosen during registration) is your key
Environmental Friendly. Yes, its a hybrid.
Ok, that are the few reasons why we prefer Smove than other rental companies. Its simple, fast and of course, the service is reliable. It only took 1-2 working days for the sign up and yes, everything is done online. No need to physically sign or meet anyone.
What about the car collection? Select your preferred location (there's a few while currently most are located in the West). Use your Ez-link. Tap on the reader and POOP!, the door unlocks and you're ready to go. Keyless feature!
How to use Smove:
The ultimate reason of why Smove and not other company. Its CHEAP! For $40*** bucks INCLUSIVE of petrol, you can drive all night long from 6.30pm - 830am the next day. WHAT!??? Best of all, you need not top up petrol. Its a hybrid for goodness sake. Fuel consumption is awesome.
***WEF From 1st August 2015, Smove has revised their pricing :(
Given that its a hybrid, I was surprise it that the ride turns out really good. It has cruise control!! GPS! Bluetooth Audio Connection! Cool features!! ok thats it. haha..
Also, since Hari Raya is around the corner and sometimes we need to buy lots of goodies or run errands, Smove is a cheap way to make the whole trip comfortable.
Well, if you're a car enthusiast like me, you'll enjoy the ride. Here are some shots of the car.
It's a 2015 Toyata Prius. 1.5Litre Electrical-Variable Engine.
Combine them, you'll have an impressive punch and not to forget, fuel economy! (But it's not like you have to fuel the car)
Just look out for this sign board and you know the car is there.
Impressive cockpit!
Use Smove car service for easy transportation / cheap car rental!
Only $5 per 15minutes or rent for a day for as cheap as $40.
Use the following link to receive $20 credit for your first ride :)
Located at South Buona Vista, Paddy Hills is a newly opened cafe. I was excited because it was so near to my workplace at Science Park plus.. I have been seeing on instagram that they have a funky art wall too!
The exterior looks simple and welcoming.
The interior
The interior was cosy and since we reached around 10am on a weekday, the whole place almost belongs to just us!
We're not coffee experts but they have a few coffee blends for you to choose from.
The Asian Brick ($18) - Meant to be shared for 2
The ambience was cosy and we spent a few hours just chatting and spending our morning together. Those are the perks of working shifts for the both of us, we get to enjoy breakfasts and brunches together if we're both not working :)
The lighting is perfect for selfies! :D
So that's for the cafe, what about the art wall which i mentioned about earlier on?
Spot all the food!
I just had to pat the kitty in an awkward position. lols
And lastly, pictures of us!
It was a wonderful experience for the both of us and since it is close by, we might just visit again! Do show us if you took any selfies here too!
Paddy Hills 38 South Buona Vista Road Singapore 118164
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.
